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Police investigate I-10 rock throwings

Semi-truck driver's windshield shattered by rocks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are searching for several people suspected of throwing rocks at cars on Interstate 10.

Driver Emanuel Gooden said he's fearful interstate drivers may be in danger after what happened to him Friday. He said a handful of rocks, possibly thrown by teens, shattered the windshield of his semi-truck.

"It's scary. I mean, it sounded like an explosion," Gooden said. "At first I thought I was shot, the way it sounded."

Gooden said he was merging onto I-10 from Chaffee Road on the Westside when rocks crushed the glass of his truck and hit him in the eyes. He pulled over and immediately called for help.

"I could've got killed," he said. "I could've turned over or run into somebody or flipped over. I mean, there's all kind of possibilities."

Deputies searched the area and didn't find any suspects, but investigators said what they did find were large rocks scattered near a creek that runs under the interstate.

"If you're driving during the daytime and you're approaching an overpass, before you get there, just kind of take a wide look to see if anyone is standing around or if it appears that someone is doing something," Channel 4 safety expert Ken Jefferson said.

Jefferson said the rock throwers are playing a dangerous game. This isn't the first time the roads in Jacksonville have been considered dangerous under similar circumstances. In 1992, there were more than 30 incidents of rock throwings and shootings along Interstate 295 in which one person was killed and three others were injured. The National Guard was brought in to help patrol the area.

Gooden's case was the second rock-throwing incident reported near Chaffee Road on Friday night.

"If they do it again, it might not be as lucky as I was," said Gooden, who's been out of work for several days as a result. "It might hurt somebody or somebody might end up turning their car over or run into somebody else and causing a serious accident and killing somebody."

As his eyes recover, Gooden's truck is under repair, and he said he's hopeful the people throwing rocks will be caught before he's back on the road.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.


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