Brick is hurled at car from bridge

Jul 21 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A WOMAN told yesterday of the terrifying moment a brick was thrown from a footbridge above her car, smashing the windscreen and covering her and her elderly mother in glass.

Maria Kelly was driving her Vauxhall Corsa with her 68-year-old mother Jean and sister Kathryn, 45, on the Cradlewell Bypass in Jesmond, Newcastle.

A brick was thrown from the footbridge above and, unable to stop suddenly for fear of causing a pile-up, Maria, Jean – who was in the front passenger seat – and Kathryn, in the back, braced themselves for its impact.

It crashed into the windscreen causing it to shatter and rain down shards of glass on the pair.

Maria, a mother-of-three, said: “We were just driving up the Cradlewell Bypass near Jesmond Dene and I saw a brick coming down towards us.

“I thought about braking to avoid it but we had cars behind us so there was not a lot I could have done. All we could do was pray it missed. But it hit the windscreen and we were all covered in shattered glass.

“My mum was hit on the hand by the rearview mirror which the brick hit – she was crying and was very shaken.

“The brick must have bounced off into the road but there was glass everywhere – it was terrifying.” An ambulance attended the scene, though each of the car’s occupants was found to be uninjured after precautionary checks.

However, all three were suffering from shock in the aftermath of the scare.

Secretary Mrs Kelly, 40, of Devon Crescent, Birtley, Gateshead, said: “I think we were all very shaken for the rest of the day – it’s lucky we are all quite calm people,” she said. It could have been worse but it was a huge shock as it was.

“It was horrible and shook us all up – my mum in particular. I don’t know how I managed to keep driving in a straight line. “I managed to pull over at the next lay-by but no-one pulled over to see how we were.”

Northumbria Police said yesterday they were carrying out an investigation to try and track down the person who threw the brick.

A spokesman said: “A report was received at 12.20pm on Saturday of a brick having been thrown at a car from a footbridge above the Cradlewell bypass in Jesmond.

“The windscreen was shattered and the occupants of the car were covered in glass.

“Inquiries are continuing and we are appealing for witnesses to come forward.”