Man says metal crashing through windshield on Eastex was ‘terrifying’ but grateful for outcome

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A man relatively new to the area got a swift introduction to Houston traffic when a piece of metal came flying at his vehicle on US-59, pictures show.

The victim said he was driving southbound on US-59 just before East Mount Houston when a piece of metal crashed through his windshield

Pictures show glass ended up all over the front seat of his Mini Cooper, but the victim, Leo Chavez, added that glass also landed all over his and his partner’s eyes.

They pulled over and called 911, unsure of what had just happened.

“Reliving it, my heart’s kind of pumping again because it was really scary. It was terrifying,” Chavez said. “So glad I didn’t react because had I slowed down, or swerved, it would’ve messed with the trajectory of that object, and it would’ve, maybe, hit us. So it happened how it was supposed to happen.”

Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived and filed a report. HCSO confirms with the metal appears to be a portion of a fork from a forklift. An investigation is underway.

But Chavez and his wife weren’t the only ones who had a near miss on Houston roads. Earlier this week, on Monday, a woman who has been in Houston for about six months went through the same experience.

That morning, officers responded to 226000 Eastex Freeway after a call that something had struck a vehicle on the freeway. Photos sent to ABC13 showed that the woman’s windshield was shattered by a piece of debris. But no injuries were reported.

Overall, Chavez said he is grateful neither he nor his wife were hurt. His car is in the shop, and the damages that were no fault of his own will cost more than $3,000.