Woman, 5 children injured when loose tire causes crash

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Kenya Rivera-Cruz, 37, of Knightdale, was driving a red SUV westbound on Interstate 540 near Buffaloe Road when a tire came off the car. Rivera-Cruz was unable to maintain control, the car flipped and crashed.

None of the five children in the car, who ranged in age, troopers said, from preschool through a teenager, had serious injuries. All were wearing seatbelts. They and Rivera-Cruz were all taken to the hospital.

Troopers charged her with driving on unsafe tires, driving without a valid license and in a vehicle that was not properly inspected or registered.

Two of three westbound lanes on I-540 were closed for about an hour after the crash.