Marysville, CA — A 28-year-old Northern California man suffered severe eye injuries after a frozen water balloon was hurled through his car’s windshield while driving home from work. The shocking random attack left him temporarily blind and covered in glass, according to authorities and the victim himself.
Alex Plant, of Yuba County, told ABC News that the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday as he drove along Highway 20 just outside Marysville.
“I was a completely random victim just driving home from work,” Plant said.
Random Attack on Highway 20
Plant recalled noticing an oncoming car before suddenly feeling a massive impact.
“About a quarter-second later, I felt an impression of something in front of me. And then boom — I get impacted in the face by something,” he told reporters.
At first, he didn’t realize what had struck him. Moments later, he noticed glass powder in his eyes and a sudden breeze flowing through the broken windshield.
“I managed to open my eyes for a second and I saw the big hole,” Plant said.
Despite being dazed and bleeding, he managed to pull his vehicle safely to the roadside, avoiding both traffic and a nearby irrigation canal. He then used voice command to call 911, staying calm enough to summon help.
According to ABC News, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the scene alongside paramedics. Investigators said they discovered water balloon fragments and chunks of ice inside the vehicle, confirming that the object thrown was frozen solid.
Hospital Treatment and Recovery
At the hospital, emergency doctors worked for hours to remove the glass fragments embedded in Plant’s face and eyes.
“That explains why I felt like my eyelid was on fire,” Plant said, recalling that doctors removed a shard nearly one-eighth of an inch long from under his eyelid.
After six hours of treatment, he was released and returned home. Four days later, Plant said his left eye’s vision has fully recovered, but his right eye remains slightly blurry and sensitive to light.
Investigation Underway
CHP officials have launched an investigation and are searching for surveillance footage from the surrounding area. They believe the frozen water balloon was intentionally thrown from another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the California Highway Patrol’s Yuba-Sutter office.
“This kind of act could have killed someone instantly,” an officer said. “We’re treating it as a serious assault with a deadly object.”
Victim Speaks About Gratitude and Awareness
Despite the trauma, Plant says he’s thankful to have survived and hopes his experience serves as a warning to others.
“That could have been somebody’s grandparents or some 16-year-old high school kid taking the car out for the first time,” he said. “That kind of person might not have been able to handle it the way I did.”
Plant added that a previous car accident 10 years ago mentally prepared him to remain calm in the face of danger.
Public Safety Reminder
Officials are reminding drivers to stay alert for suspicious activity and to report any dangerous behavior immediately. CHP noted that even small objects can become deadly projectiles at high speeds.
Anyone with details about the case is asked to call CHP Marysville or submit information through their local office.
What are your thoughts on this terrifying attack and the risks of reckless roadside behavior? Share your views in the comments below.
