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Bolt shatters driver’s windshield on the freeway

Posted at 6:35 PM, May 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-27 18:35:34-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Driving along US-131 just north of the 'S-curve' a driver says a six-inch bolt came out of nowhere, and shattered the windshield.

Six-inch bolt shattered Pamela Collins' windshield Thursday as she drove along US-131 northbound near I-196.

Six-inch bolt shattered Pamela Collins' windshield Thursday as she drove along US-131 northbound near I-196.

“It happened so fast and it literally came out of nowhere," said Pamela Collins.

Collins was on her way back to the office Thursday around 3:30 p.m., driving north on US-131 in the right hand lane about to exit onto I-196, when a heavy bolt cracked her windshield. It struck through the glass near the rear view mirror; a spot Collins' believed could have saved her a trip to the hospital.

“It was very scary," said Collins. "If that bolt would’ve been over six inches to the left, it probably would have went through my leg with the angle it was coming in; pretty scary situation.”

Collins said she managed to exit the freeway and then call a tow truck, meanwhile glass shards fell onto her dashboard.

“Not a lot rattles me but I was pretty shaken yesterday over that one," she said.

FOX 17 drove this route Friday afternoon and found no visible debris: located just north of the 'S-curve,' and outside of any construction zone. Collins said there were no cars driving in front of her yesterday either.

“I couldn’t have done anything differently," said Collins. "It just is something that happened and I’m thankful that I wasn’t hurt, and you know, I can kind of laugh about it now.”

If anything like this ever happens to you, the MSP remind drivers to call police if they believe the situation to be suspicious.