Scenes at Interstate 95 crash, between southbound Exits 16 and 17 in Westport, where a loose tire struck this passing car and sheared off its roof early Wednesday. The driver had to extricated by Westport firefighters. / Photos, Westport Fire Department

WESTPORT — A loose tire careened across Interstate 95 and sheared off the roof of a passing car early Wednesday, requiring firefighters to extricate the driver from the wreck.

The incident took place shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday on a local stretch of southbound I-95, between Exits 16 and 17, according to the report by Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Gootman.

Westport firefighters, from Saugatuck Station 4 and headquarters, who were dispatched to the crash scene found the damaged Toyota Camry stopped in the highway’s left lane and the driver trapped inside, according to the report.

Firefighters used extrication tools to free the driver — later identified by State Police as Rafael Pacheco, 52, of Bronx, N.Y. He was transported to Norwalk Hospital by Westport EMS for treatment of undetermined injuries.

State Police said the collision was caused by “an errant tire from an unknown vehicle,” according to the fire report. 

Troopers are continuing to investigate the incident.

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