A new investigation into the crash that killed US journalist Ray Hartmann has focused on missing grease in a truck wheel assembly, raising fresh questions about whether the fatal incident could have been prevented.
Hartmann, 73, died on 23 April 2026 after two tyres detached from a tractor-trailer’s towed unit on Interstate 64, near St. Louis, Missouri. They hit the concrete central reservation, became airborne and penetrated the roof of his Chevrolet Bolt.
The circumstances were initially reported as an extraordinary highway tragedy. But an investigation broadcast by FOX 2 St. Louis on 9 November now points to a lubrication problem associated with the wheel assembly.
What the new investigation says
FOX 2 reports that missing grease has been cited in connection with the wheel separation. A lawyer representing Hartmann’s family told the broadcaster that the crash was “absolutely avoidable” because of a mechanical failure.
That is a serious claim, but it is important to distinguish the broadcaster’s reported findings and the family’s legal position from a final determination of responsibility. Fish 4 News has not independently examined the underlying mechanical report, maintenance records or any court findings establishing negligence.
The central question is now whether a defect or maintenance failure allowed the wheels to separate from the vehicle, and whether warning signs should have been detected before the truck entered the motorway.
What the official crash record confirms
A Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report records the collision at about 2pm on 23 April, on eastbound Interstate 64 west of Interstate 270. It identifies the other vehicle as a 2020 Volvo VNL and describes two tyres coming off its towed unit.
According to the patrol’s account, those tyres struck the central reservation and then the roof of Hartmann’s car, going through it and hitting the driver. Hartmann was taken to Mercy Hospital St. Louis, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2pm.
The publicly available crash summary describes how the collision happened. It does not set out a detailed finding about lubrication, maintenance responsibility or liability.
Why grease matters to heavy-vehicle wheels
Commercial-vehicle wheel bearings require the correct type and amount of lubrication. Insufficient lubrication can increase friction and heat, accelerating wear and potentially contributing to wheel-end failure. It does not, by itself, prove precisely why a particular wheel detached.
Truck component manufacturers recommend checking wheel hubs for signs of leakage, overheating, vibration and bearing problems. SKF’s published wheel-end maintenance guidance highlights low lubrication levels among the warning signs requiring attention.
Who was Ray Hartmann?
Hartmann was a well-known figure in St. Louis journalism. He founded the Riverfront Times in 1977 and helped establish the public-affairs programme Donnybrook on Nine PBS. He also led St. Louis Magazine and later stood as a congressional candidate.
His death prompted tributes from colleagues and former contributors who remembered his independent approach to local journalism and public debate. He is survived by his wife and two children.
What remains unanswered
The new report raises important questions about how the truck’s wheel assembly was inspected and maintained. However, the full technical basis for the missing-grease finding, the identity of any party legally responsible and whether proceedings have established fault remain unverified by Fish 4 News. Those questions should not be treated as settled.
Watch: FOX 2 St. Louis investigates the missing-grease finding in the crash that killed Ray Hartmann.
If the video does not display, watch FOX 2’s investigation directly on YouTube.
