Local

Road reflector crashes through windshield, narrowly misses driver

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A reflector that was in between traffic lanes crashed through a driver’s window Tuesday night on Interstate 77 in Rock Hill.

Don Hilborne ducked behind the steering wheel to avoid the flying object, possibly saving his life.

"(A) tractor-trailer ran over it, kicked it up and I saw it come out of the ground, flying right at me," Hilborne said.

Glass went in his eye as the reflector penetrated the windshield.

"Sort of scary,” Hilborne said. “It could've killed me. It could've killed my wife if I'd have lost control of my car."

Channel 9 has investigated hazards along I-77 north of Charlotte and on Interstate 485 after metal pavement markers came loose and damaged vehicles.

South Carolina transportation officials will investigate the incident, a spokesperson said.

"Somebody's got to pay for this. I don't believe I should take the loss," Hilborne said.

A state spokesperson said Hilborne can file a damage claim with Department of Transportation, but state law gives the agency 180 days to decide whether to pay it.

For now, Hilborne will be out hundreds of dollars and he doesn't want it to happen to anyone else.

“If I wouldn't have ducked, who knows what would've happened. I don't know -- could've killed us," he said.

A DOT engineer said he's not aware of any other reports of reflectors coming up and causing damage.

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