SHELBYVILLE, Ind. -- A Shelbyville police officer was killed late Wednesday night when two rear dual wheels from a tractor-trailer fell off the truck and struck him as he stood alongside the State Road 44 ramp to Interstate 74 eastbound, police said.

Sgt. Gary Henderson (pictured), 51, had been sent to back up a Shelby County sheriff's deputy who had made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was believed to have been stolen that had two juveniles inside.

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Images: Officer Killed When Trailer Tires, Wheel Hit Him

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Police said that the tractor-trailer was going past the scene at about 11:40 p.m. when the rear passenger-side wheels came off the trailer. The tractor-trailer's driver was apparently unaware of what happened and continued on the interstate for a few miles before he was stopped.

Officials said Henderson was taking pictures of the traffic stop when he was struck. Police called what happened a tragic accident and said it was not likely that the tractor-trailer driver would face charges.

Shelbyville Police Chief Bill Elliott said Thursday it was "not highly unusual" for a truck to lose a wheel. Inspectors and truck drivers agreed.

"What we did notice was there was no grease in the hub," Elliott said. "I don't know if it just ran dry and it just came loose. (It was) one in a million -- just the way things happen."

A motorcade left Shelbyville late Thursday morning to retrieve Henderson's body, which had been taken to Hamilton County, Ohio, for an autopsy. It returned later in the evening.

Members of the Shelbyville Police Department gathered in the square downtown early Thursday morning to lower a flag to be presented to the fallen officer's family.

Henderson had been with the department for 29 years and had many ties to the community, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

"He was a very good guy, a family man, and was looking forward to retirement in a few years," Clark said.

Henderson's squad car was parked in front of the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, draped in a black cloth.

"He'll be missed dearly. He had a great family and our prayers have to go out to them," said Shelbyville Mayor Scott Ferguson. "Our concentration now is to make sure that they get through this fine."

"He was kind of the Andy Griffith ... of that department," said Shelby County deputy prosecutor David Riggins. "He had a good heart and a level head and was just a good person."

Police said the juveniles inside the suspected stolen car were not injured and were taken to the Johnson County Juvenile Detention facility.