Arizona DPS catches ’18 wheeler with only 16 wheels’ en route to California

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking drivers to be mindful of their vehicle maintenance after catching a semi missing some wheels on I-10.

In a December 20 Facebook post, Arizona DPS said:

“Anything missing here?

The driver of this tractor-trailer was stopped by an AZDPS trooper on westbound Interstate 10 in Goodyear for operating an 18-wheeler with only 16 wheels. The driver explained they had hoped to make it to California to buy new tires. A trooper escorted them off the highway, cited the driver and placed them out of service.

Whether you’re driving a car, truck or motorcycle, help keep our roadways safe during this busy holiday season by maintaining your vehicle properly! Find tips for vehicle maintenance at www.azdps.gov/safety/travel.“

Arizona DPS later clarified that the missing wheels were not among the “multiple violations” that were documented on the truck.

“Correction – The driver of this tractor-trailer was stopped by an AZDPS trooper on westbound I-10 in Goodyear and multiple violations were documented which led to placing the driver out of service. The two missing tires were not among the violations. We apologize for the confusion from our original post,” the agency said.