LaPorte County-A Michigan driver was lucky this morning when a piece of metal came through his front windshield striking him near his right eyebrow.
At approximately 7:15 a.m., this morning, Master Trooper Jeff Council responded to a personal injury crash on east bound I-94 at the 36.3 mile marker (this is approximately 2 miles east of the Michigan City exit). Preliminary investigation revealed that Thomas L. Kotenko, 55 of Macomb, Michigan, was driving a 2016 Jeep in the far right lane traveling behind another car. That car (a Honda) was traveling behind a semi-tractor trailer. Kotenko watched as the Honda slowed and swerved in the right lane and then saw a large airborne object coming toward him. The object struck the hood of the Jeep, went through the windshield and struck Kotenko near the right eyebrow. The object landed on the front passenger floor board.
The object was a large rectangular piece of metal, approximately nine inches long, three inches wide, ½ inch thick and weighing 5 pounds, 7 ounces. It was later determined to be a piece of a semi’s trailer leaf spring.
Kotenko was taken to Franciscan Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City for his non-life threatening injuries.
Neither the Honda nor semi stopped.
Assisting: LaPorte County EMS and ACE Towing
-30-
Wojas
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Picture #1-is of the damaged Jeep
Picture #2-is of the piece of metal inside the Jeep
