Frozen water bottles used to break windshields on Missouri highway, police say

Authorities have advised drivers in southwest Missouri to use caution while driving on the interstates after multiple vehicles have been hit with frozen water bottles this week.

The incidents have happened to motorists driving on highway 43 in Newton County between the Petro Truck Stop and Seneca the last few days.

“We’re lucky that somebody hasn’t been hurt real bad or killed, I mean some of these have destroyed the fronts of cars, we’ve had numerous windshields knocked out, the grills knocked out, it’s dangerous, it’s very dangerous,” said James Altic, Seneca Police Chief, to KSN News.

“We had one victim get hit coming into town and going out of town on two separate days,” said Altic.

The Seneca school bus was struck, cracking the windshield, on the morning of February 25. The school bus was traveling on 43 Highway going 55 miles an hour.

Travis VanWagner, Transportation & Maintenance Director, Seneca Schools, said, “You get hit in the windshield with something, whatever was thrown if it spooks the driver, that could cause him to go into the ditch, wreck, you know, you’re taking kids lives in danger, it’s just ridiculous of people doing this, it’s crazy.”

Chris Jennings, Newton County Sheriff, said, “I’m assuming it’s probably a bunch of kids that have seen something on TikTok or something and now they’re trying it, but they don’t realize how dangerous it is and how close they can come to really hurting somebody, a frozen water bottle is just like throwing a rock at somebody, it’s a deadly weapon, and we will pursue it and prosecute it like it is.”

Authorities are on the lookout for suspects, and drivers should remain alert when traveling through the area.