Macomb County couple lucky to be alive after truck tire nearly splits car in half on I-696

Clinton Township, Michigan. – a Clinton Township A couple are lucky to be alive after a faulty truck tire split their car in half.

Dan and Meredith Ronikowski stayed close to home Friday night as they weren’t eager to get back on the road after walking away from a car wreck that could have easily killed them.

The accident happened on eastbound I-696 near Hilton Road on Wednesday (Oct. 25) at 2 p.m.

Last year, Pennsylvania police officers found themselves in the same dilemma Meredith faced.

“We saw it right through the middle, and it bounced back toward us in a split second,” Meredith said. “I had to make a decision. I didn’t know what to do, and I hit the brakes.”

“On impact, I turned away and went through the windshield, hit my shoulder, hit my head, and immediately took the roof off,” Dunn said.

“I looked at him; I’m like, oh my God, are you okay? “It was crazy,” Meredith said.

“I kept looking for the usher to look at my head, and there was no ceiling,” Dan said.

The pictures Dan took in the next seconds were absolutely terrifying as his arms and head were covered in blood.

“If you had turned the car a little bit this way or a little bit that way, it probably could have hit us head-on,” Meredith said. “We wouldn’t be talking here right now.”

The very emotional idea had been playing in their heads since Wednesday.

“I keep seeing the tire go through the windshield,” Dan said. “I feel lucky, but I’m not so lucky, like why us?”

A passerby stopped to help until the tow truck arrived. They now know that Meredith made absolutely the right decision without having had time to think.

“Her performance was perfect, she couldn’t have done better,” Dunn said.

And if you’re wondering if they’re counting their lucky stars, they are, as Dan said he played a scratch-off ticket and won $50 for his trouble.

Michigan State Police responded, but no one knows where the tire came from.

The Wronowski family is asking if you were in the area Wednesday and saw anything they would like to hear from you. They want to know where the tire came from.

Anyone with information can send your answer to RodM@WDIV.com.

Watch the full interview below