Highway 101 window smasher getting bolder, CHP says
More than three dozen cars have been struck by “high-velocity projectiles” since February on highways near Prunedale, the California Highway Patrol has reported.
In all 38 cases, the driver’s side window was struck. Five people suffered minor injuries from shattered glass, the most seriously injured a Prunedale man who suffered cuts to his eye, the CHP said. No crashes have been reported.
The vehicles were on Highway 156 or Highway 101.
“The CHP has investigated each of these incidents, but due to their random nature, we have not been able to identify a suspect or suspects,” said CHP Monterey Area commander Capt. Kyle Foster.
He did not identify the projectiles other than to say they are about the size of a marble or smaller and aren’t believed to be fired from a gun.
Most of the attacks happen on Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays between 7 and 11 p.m..
“The boldness of the people responsible has significantly increased,” Foster said at a Friday press conference, according to TV station KSBW. In the biggest flurry, he said, seven cars were struck within 18 minutes on Oct. 30.
Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP’s Monterey area office, at (831) 770-8000.