ON THE MORNING ON 6/14/2000 AT 6AM I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-17 IN AZ ( 1 MILE N OF SUNSETPOINT MARKER 254) AT APPROX. 70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT 75 MPH). MY LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED AND EXPLODED SPINNING ME ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGHWAY AND INTO A RUGGED DESER MEDIAN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN, START TO ROLL TO THE SIDE AND THEN WAS UPRIGTED AS THE SIDE COLLIDED WITH A LARGE BOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS WISH BONED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE CARRIER. THE THREE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO YAVAPAI COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER IN PRESCOTT BY PARAMEDICS WITH BUMPS AND BRUISES. THE DRIVER (MICHELE) SUSTAINED A SHATTERED LEFT ARM, HAND AND DISLOCATED WRIST. IMMEDIATE SURGERY WAS PERFORMED TO STABILIZE THE SHATTERED BONES AND INSERT AN EXTERNAL FIXATOR. A SECOND SURGERY TOOK PLACE APPROX. 5 WEEKS LATER TO ATTEMPT TO FURTHER REDUCE THE DISLOCATION AND SET MORE OF THE SHATTERED BONES. AT THIS TIME, 2 1/2 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE EXTERNAL FIXATR IS STILL IN PLACE BECAUSE THE BONES HAVE YET TO HEAL. EXTENSIVE THERAPY WILL BE NEEDED AND PERMANENT LOSS HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )