Driver thought he was going toward Tempe. He was actually headed to Tucson on a bare rim.

Published: Mar 20, 2026 3:14 PM • Updated: Mar 21, 2026 4:22 PM • Original source

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A 19-year-old driver was recently booked into jail after he was found driving along Interstate 10 with a missing tire.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to calls on March 15 at about 5 :30 a.m. of a vehicle moving at highway speeds with a bare front-left rim. DPS said the driver traveled for about 12 miles on the rim before stopping at the Ina Road exit near Tucson.

DPS said the driver thought he was headed toward Tempe, when he was actually driving in the opposite direction to downtown Tucson. A preliminary breath test showed the driver allegedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.217, well above Arizona's legal limit.

DPS said the driver was taken into custody and the vehicle was impounded.

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