Windows shattered as drivers head down road

By Thanh Tan and KATU Web Staff Published: Dec 27, 2007 at 6:56 PM PST
Windows shattered as drivers head down road »Play Video

VANCOUVER, Wash. - At least four people reported their windows were shattered Dec. 26 as they drove down State Route 14 in Vancouver.

Trooper Mike Kesler, spokesman for the Washington State Patrol, said the incidents happened in quick succession:

  • At 5:54 p.m., a vehicle had a right side window shattered by an unknown object as it traveled westbound SR-14 just east of Lieser Road. 
  • At 6:02 p.m., a vehicle had a right side window shattered by an unknown object as it traveled westbound SR-14 just east of Lieser Road. 
  • At 6:30 p.m., the driver of a vehicle while merging from SE Ellsworth Road onto westbound SR-14 heard a loud bang then the right side window was shattered from an unknown object. 
  • At 11:15 p.m., the driver of a vehicle traveling westbound SR-14 to southbound I-205 heard a loud pop then the right side window was shattered by an unknown object.

A fifth victim came to troopers Thursday morning and reported a pellet hole in the back of his car. He told police he had driven down the same stretch of SR 14 the night before.

Kesler said police have no evidence on hand, but a pellet gun appears to be the weapon that was likely used to damage the other windows.

No one was hurt.

"All indications are (the objects) came from the north side of the roadway," Kesler said, noting that four of the five victims had their right windows blown out.

This type of vandalism has happened in Vancouver before. Earlier this year, a man was caught throwing rocks at cars on Interstate 5 and Mill Plain.

"We've had objects that have physically hit the person after they've gone through the windows," Kesler said.

That is exactly what happened to Washington resident Steve Bruce in 2006, as he drove under an overpass on Interstate 205.

The incident nearly killed him and his wife, who had to have glass flushed out of her eye.

"Makes you think how short life really can be," Bruce told KATU at the time.

State troopers say they want to locate the person targeting cars before another incident occurs.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Ryan Tanner at (360) 449-7950.