MONTROSE, Minn. (WSVN) — Dangerous debris from a trailer’s hitch left a driver on the edge of death on a Minnesota highway.
Pete Pozorki is thankful to be alive after he experienced a near death accident on Sept. 21. On his daily work commute, a trailer hitch suddenly broke loose from a truck, bounced off the hood of another car and smashed Pozorki’s windshield.
The near 30-pound object missed Pozorki by luck and ended on his car’s dashboard. "My first reaction was to put my knee on the steering wheel, and I put my arms up at a cross," said Pozorki. "It sounded like someone strapped a piece of dynamite onto my windshield."
Accidents like these happen due to the lack of knowledge in properly securing loads and poorly maintained truck haulings, according to Minnesota State Patrol Officers.
The accident is currently under investigation and officials said it is not clear whether the hitch came directly from a truck. "This particular hitch weighed 28 pounds," said Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Tiffani Schweigart. "So, at 55 miles per hour, we are talking about 1,000 pounds of force impacting the front of his vehicle, and he’s very fortunate."
Officials said Pozorki’s driving speed was normal and his following distance was safe, which helped him to slow down and prevent an even greater tragedy. "I feel very lucky that I was able to go home and have a hot meal," said Pozorki. "And wake up the next morning. A couple more inches, it would have bypassed my dash and taken me out."