Rock thrown at car on Dorset Way almost smashes windscreen

The motorist, who lives in Upton, was taking his six-year-old son home from school when the incident took place on the Dorset Way in Poole.

When he was able to pullover he discovered a large crack on the driver’s side of the glass.

A police investigation is ongoing following the stone throwing, which took place from the pedestrian bridge over the stretch of dual carriageway between Tower Park roundabout and Fleetsbridge.

Canford Heath ward councillor Sandra Moore said it was unthinkable for children to be acting in such a way. She warned that someone could get killed.

The rock caused a large crack across the windscreen

• Read more: Rock thrown at car from bridge on Dorset Way in Poole

The driver, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Daily Echo: “It was a horrible situation. We were really scared.

“We were just driving back from school on the Dorset Way. Three kids were on the bridge throwing stones.

"One of them landed on my windscreen right in front of me. I almost crashed.

“I turned off at the next exit to try and find the teenagers and I followed them until the police arrived.

“Police said there was not a camera in the area to show them throwing the stones.”

While the financial cost of replacing the damage, around £200, was “okay”, the driver said the potential consequences of the incident did not bear thinking about.

The Dorset Way where the incident took place

“I can’t even imagine what could have happened if it smashed through my windscreen. We could have been killed,” he said.

“I was in shock. My boy was crying. It took quite a while for him to calm down. He saw the boys throwing the stones.

“If I was going 10 miles per hour faster it could have gone through the window and hit me.”

• Read more: Stone throwing onto A338 from bridge 'could end in tragedy'

Incidents of items being thrown on the bridges between Tower Park roundabout and Mannings Heath roundabout led to both walkways being caged off by the council.

Fortunately the rock did not smash through the windscreen

Councillor Moore said she would raise her concerns about the incident, which took place at around 3.40pm on Wednesday, March 2, with council officers to see if measures can be taken “The young people doing this really are risking people’s lives,” she said.

“It is awful what this poor man had to experience. This is a high speed road and it could end in a tragedy.”

Police Constable Tom Henley, of Poole police, said: “This was extremely dangerous behaviour by the individuals involved that could have had serious consequences for the motorist and his child in the vehicle.

“Fortunately, they were not injured but we remain determined to identify those responsible.

“I would urge anyone who was in the area at the time and either witnessed the incident or may have captured anything of relevance on dashcam footage to please get in touch.”

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk/do-it-online, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220034538.

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