i was driving two car lengths behind this old van when its left rear wheel and tire suddenly detaches from the axle for no apparent reason (wala namang lubak or anything on the road). the tire rolled quickly into the opposite lane (startling the jeepney driver in front of me and the driver of a car in the opposite lane) for a few dozen meters, jumps the curb, rolls on the sidewalk for another few dozen meters, then hops back onto the road and continued to roll out of sight.

good thing the tire didn't hit any vehicle or person, but still, it's not hard to imagine what an incredible accident could have resulted. and what if the wheel of this clunker chose to declare its independence on the highway??