Wheel flies from off-duty police officer's vehicle, seriously injuring woman on Hwy. 400

A 29-year-old Barrie, Ont. woman is seriously injured after a wheelcame off a carand smashed through thewindshield of the car she was driving on Highway 400 near Innisfil on Wednesday.

Toronto police have confirmed the tire came from a vehicle being driven by a56-year-old off-duty officer. Ontario Provincial Police say they expect charges will be laid.

The collision took place on Highway 400 southbound, north of Highway 89, according to OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt. Emergency crews were called to the scene at 8:30 a.m.

Schmidt said thefrontwheel separatedfrom a vehicle going northbound on Highway 400. Itbounced over the highway and struck thesouthbound car "head-on," he said.

The male driver of the car that lost the wheel remained at the scene and was taken to hospital to be assessed, but was not believed to be injured, Schmidt said.

An air ambulancelanded on the highway to pick up the woman and takeher to a trauma centre. Thewoman suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including multiple fractures, according to the OPP.

"She will make a full recovery," said Schmidt.

The impact of the wheelcrushedthe car's windshield and damaged itsroof.

Officers searchedfor the wheelin the ditch and the bush near the highway but have not yet found it, Schmidt said.

A stretch of Highway 400 from Highway 80 to Innisfil Beach Roadhad been closed for the police investigation, but has since reopened. Theclosure caused "massive" delays in both directions in the area.

Anyone with relevant dashboard camera video is urged to contact police.