Drivers Front Wheel fell off '04 V70 X/C

[Mike Langlois]

So I lent my V70 X/C to my Dr. who had just had just totaled his Mini Cooper; we like him, so we stuck him in a Volvo. After 6 months I had to take the car back for service and a Volvo Factory Recall (front Air Bag). I drove the car twice and noticed an issue in the front end while driving. To keep the story short, I did not stop and check the problem out immediately (smart course of action). Since I had noticed an issue, I was in the slow lane of the freeway when the wheel finally dropped off the spindle and I got the car to the shoulder without damaging the body. Then the tire rolled off the car as it was being put on a flat bed tow truck and it took the liberty of removing the drivers front fender . The lug nuts came loose and so did the wheel. I'm professional mechanic for industrial equipment and do small things like cars for fun. The tires were rotated about 4 weeks prior to the wheel falling off and I did it. In 45 years of mechanical work, I have never had a set of lug nuts come loose and a wheel fall off; I'm not perfect, but I do follow procedure and tighten in a star pattern, then double check torque in a sequential pattern.

Anyone else ever have a wheel fall off or know of any reason why this would happen? I'm also looking for a source for a used '04 V70 X/C dr. front fender. The X/C uses a special fender evidently and Volvo is VERY proud of it; I think they raised the Blue Tax! Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.
Manic Mike