Tuesday, March 23, 2010

PDX Traffic.. Hitch Through Windshield





Tow Hitch Crashes Through Front Windshield Hitting Driver, Narrowly Missing Small Child - Highway 99E north of Canby (Photos)

News Release from: Oregon State Police
TOW HITCH CRASHES THROUGH FRONT WINDSHIELD HITTING DRIVER, NARROWLY MISSING SMALL CHILD - HIGHWAY 99E NORTH OF CANBY (PHOTOS)
Posted: February 17th, 2010 10:07 PM

A 29-year old Milwaukie man and his six-month old son are lucky to have survived a freak incident Wednesday when a loose trailer hitch bouncing on the road north of Canby crashed through their vehicle's front windshield. The tow hitch hit the man's chest and forearm and then nearly struck the child in his car seat before coming to rest in the back of the vehicle.

According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Trooper Jose Cortez, on February 17, 2010 at approximately 4:30 p.m. a 2005 Mazda Tribute driven by ERIC J. PROVOST, age 29, from Milwaukie, was northbound on Highway 99E near milepost 18 when a tow hitch suddenly bounced off the highway in front of his vehicle and crashed through the left side of the windshield. The tow hitch hit the steering wheel with such force that it bent the steering wheel, then it hit PROVOST's chest and left forearm before striking the ceiling as it missed his son seated in a car seat on the center rear seating area.

PROVOST was seriously injured and transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University. His injuries are non-life threatening.

The child was not injured.

OSP troopers were assisted by Canby Fire Department, Canby Police Department and ODOT.

The investigation has not determined what vehicle the trailer hitch came off from before hitting the car.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###

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