A truck driver is out of work for at least the next several weeks after getting shot in the eye with a paintball gun at an intersection in Washington earlier this month.
The incident occurred near Spokane Valley, Washington. Michael Cottone was driving through an intersection when the paintball came in through his open window and hit his left eye. Cottone was able to pull over safely, but says his vision still hasn’t returned.
As of Sunday, August 12th, Cottone says the vision in his left eye is still incredibly blurry, preventing him from driving his truck and providing for his family. The doctors say he may never fully recover vision in the eye, and do not expect it to recover quickly, reported KHQ.
“My depth perception, holding my kids. Being able to pay my bills, stay the provider for the family. It’s very worrisome,” Cottone said.
“He holds onto a lot of taking care of our family and being the sole provider… and his income provides the bulk of our necessities,” Devan Cottone, his wife, said.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the incident, and the Cottones are asking anyone with cameras near the intersection where Michael was shot to please come forward with the footage.
Despite the hardship, the family says they are happy the incident didn’t end any worse.
“[it] could have been seriously fatal and could have caused serious severe damage to other people’s families and impacted other people. So, paintball airsoft, whatever it may be, they have specific locations for games like that for a reason,” Cottone said.