Tire sabotage?
 

Hi so I recently had a really bad accident in my friend's Ford Ranger Tremor. A few days prior to this her ex boyfriend broke into her backyard and took his tires back and put some older ones back on. My question is if he removed the pin and loosened the lock nut would that cause the tire to come off after driving for a bit because that's what happened. Does anyone know what I would need to show in order to prove it or what the tire arm or rim would need to look like if that's what happened. This wasn't meant to happen to me the truck is hers and she is a mother of 3 I just so happened to be driving it trying to do her a favor I have pictures if needed

Guess folks are never gonna learn; don't let anyone except you drive your vehicles.
Not your "friend", not your boy\girl "friend", not your kids.
That friend\kid wrecks the vehicle, might say they're sorry, might not, then walks away;
you suffer the long term financial+credit+legal damage.

Welcome to the forum

What year Ranger, there were several years with "Tremor" model

Whats the "pin and lock nut" you are referring to?
picture

Wheels are held on by 5 or 6 lug nuts

And the studs would show marks if the nuts were not tightened properly and loosened up while driving

By pin and lock nut I assume you're talking about the spindle nut that holds the entire rotor and wheel on the front of a 2WD independent front suspension truck.

While that being removed could cause the tire to fall off, yes, you'd notice it immediately as the front outer wheel bearing would slide off the spindle, and the tire would come off soon after. You'd maybe get like half a mile down the road on the best of scenarios with that nut and bearing retention system removed