BEAUMONT, CA (November 29, 2025) — A Los Angeles man died Monday after a tire from another vehicle flew across the center divider and struck his windshield on State Route 60 in Beaumont. The coroner’s office identified the victim as 68-year-old Steve Law.
Accident Details: The California Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred just after 11 a.m. Monday on westbound SR-60 near the exit for Jack Rabbit Trail. Officer Ricardo Palomera said a 2011 BMW 328i driven by Philip Neil McKeehan, 54, of Riverside, was traveling eastbound when his left rear tire became detached and airborne.
The tire went over the center divider wall and onto the westbound lanes. Law was driving his 2017 Toyota Sienna in the number one westbound lane when the tire hit the front windshield and roof of his vehicle. The impact caused Law to lose control, and the minivan slammed into the center divider, then went off the freeway and plowed into an embankment.
Riverside County Fire Department paramedics pronounced Law dead at the scene. His passenger, a 54-year-old Santa Ana woman, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment. McKeehan was not hurt, and the BMW came to a stop on the freeway. No other vehicles were involved.
Investigation: The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The crash led to lane closures that were lifted by early afternoon. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP San Gorgonio office at 951-846-5300 or the investigating officer, Officer J. Esparza, or Public Information Officer R. Palomera.
Legal Considerations: When a tire detaches from a vehicle and causes a fatal crash, liability typically falls on the vehicle owner and potentially the mechanic or shop that last serviced the vehicle. Vehicle owners have a duty to properly maintain their vehicles, including ensuring wheels and tires are securely attached.
Tire detachment can result from improper lug nut tightening, worn wheel studs, or failure to inspect critical components during routine maintenance. If McKeehan or a repair shop recently worked on the BMW’s wheels, questions arise about whether proper torque specifications were followed and whether the vehicle was safe to operate.
California law allows wrongful death claims against parties whose negligence causes fatal accidents. In cases involving mechanical failures, multiple parties may share liability depending on who was responsible for the vehicle’s maintenance and inspection.
Law had no ability to avoid the tire that flew into his path, making this a particularly tragic case where the victim could do nothing to prevent his own death. His family can pursue compensation for funeral costs, his pain and suffering before death, medical expenses for the surviving passenger, and the loss of his presence in their lives.
Vehicle owners must recognize that failure to maintain their vehicles properly can have deadly consequences for innocent motorists sharing the road.
Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Steve Law during this difficult time.