WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Police are now saying at least 15 people have had their vehicles hit by rocks which were thrown at them while traveling down highways within the city.
Those numbers are compiled from the last month and a half and do not include some reports which have been filed at the time of this article.
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The latest of the incidents happened Monday morning on Highway 52 near the Clemmonsville Road exit, according to one of the victims.
“I was coming down 52 and right under Cassell Street,” said Tony Danner, owner of All Pro Packing and Moving in Winston-Salem. “About the time I came over the hill I could see them over there getting ready to sling rocks and I thought ‘Oh Lord, I hope it doesn’t hit me.'”
Danner said the people throwing the rocks appeared to be teenagers, standing in a wooded area just off the highway.
Danner’s vehicle was struck by a six inch rock, which came through his windshield and hit his passenger seat.
“It could have been awful, I mean, I could’ve wrecked or killed somebody; or they could’ve killed me,” Danner said.
After being hit, Danner pulled over, only to realize he was not the only victim.
“There were four trucks total and every one of them had windshield damage,” he said.
Another viewer, who wished to remain anonymous, said he also fell victim. This incident occurred on Jan. 16 at about 6:30 in the evening.
That man says an eight pound rock came through his windshield, causing significant damage to his passenger seat. The total damage to his vehicle is estimated at over $5,000.
Winston-Salem police Captain Doug Nance says the incidents are not only happening on Highway 52. There have also been reports of rocks being thrown at vehicles on I-40. However, all of the recent incidents have occurred in the same general area and they believe it’s the same group of people responsible for all of them.
Nance says five reports were filed in a matter of three hours on Dec. 19.
Police believe the people responsible are juveniles on foot. Eleven of the 15 incidents happened on Friday nights between 6 and 11:30.
They have stepped up patrols in the area and are looking into the particulars of each case in the hope of stopping the trend before someone is seriously injured.
