Man killed by flying truck tire on Highway 400 ID’d as former construction CEO

TORONTO — The man killed by a flying truck tire while driving on Highway 400 near King City, Ont., has been identified as a former CEO with a major Toronto construction firm.

Provincial police say 69-year-old Paul Koenderman, of Burlington, Ont., was killed Wednesday morning when the tire flew off a fully loaded transport truck in the southbound lanes and struck the windshield of his GMC Yukon.

Koenderman was airlifted to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Koenderman was a former CEO with Aecon Group Inc.’s industrial division, the company confirmed.

“His leadership and contributions leave a lasting legacy in our organization and he will be dearly missed,” President and CEO Teri McKibbon said in a statement.

READ MORE: Critics blame Ontario government for increase in flying truck tires

Police are investigating the collision.

The incident comes after 127 incidents of detached wheels on Ontario roads last year — leading one New Democrat MPP to blame what he called a lack of transport truck inspections by safety officials.

In 1997, 215 flying truck tires were registered but the number of incidents dropped to 47 in 2010.

A blitz targeting transport trucks dubbed “Operation Wheel Check” was launched throughout the province last month.

More in-depth inspections for proper installation and maintenance of truck wheels are reportedly taking place.

More than 1,800 trucks and over 10,000 wheel assemblies have been inspected, according to the ministry.

2:09 Critics blame Ontario government for increase in flying truck tires

WATCH ABOVE: Critics are blaming the Ontario government for increases in incidents of tires flying off of trucks. The number of incidents involving tires coming loose and flying from transport trucks has risen since 2010. Mark McAllister reports.