A driver on an Arizona interstate survived a frightening encounter when a sharp piece of steel came through the car’s windshield. The Arizona Department of Transportation used the incident as a reminder for drivers to secure loads before taking off on the road.
The incident happened on westbound Interstate 10 near Dysart Road during the week of Aug. 11, according to 12News. The steel reportedly cut the driver’s shoulder, while broken glass from the windshield injured his face, but luckily the passenger was not severely injured.
Despite being struck, the driver managed to pull onto the shoulder and call 911. ADOT did not identify either occupant or disclose whether the driver required hospital treatment.
The official ADOT Facebook post includes photographs of the damaged windshield and the piece of metal that entered the vehicle.
ADOT Searched the Interstate for Additional Debris
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After the incident, a member of ADOT’s Incident Response Unit patrolled that section of I-10 to make sure no additional debris remained on the highway.
The transportation department used the incident to remind drivers to secure and cover anything they are carrying. However, ADOT did not say where the steel came from, how it reached the windshield, or whether officials identified another vehicle associated with it. No citation or enforcement action was announced.
Arizona Crews Handled More Than 4,800 Debris Calls Last Year
Objects falling onto highways are a regular problem for Arizona’s road crews. In June, ADOT reported that its Incident Response Unit responded to more than 4,800 debris calls across the Phoenix metropolitan area in 2025. Crews removed objects including grills, couches, ladders and spilled rocks.
Those objects can damage vehicles, cause drivers to swerve, or lead to crashes. Removing them also places transportation workers and state troopers in moving traffic.
ADOT advises drivers not to stop and retrieve debris themselves. Anyone who encounters a dangerous object in an active travel lane should call 911 and allow trained responders to remove it.
Arizona Law Requires Drivers To Secure Their Loads
Under Arizona law, vehicles must be loaded in a way that prevents their contents from dropping, leaking or otherwise escaping onto the road. Loads and their coverings must also be securely fastened so they do not pose a hazard to other motorists.
A first violation that does not result in damage or injury carries a civil penalty of up to $250. The maximum increases to $500 if a violation causes an accident involving serious physical injury and $1,000 if it results in someone’s death. Those penalties have not been linked to the I-10 incident because officials have not identified the source of the steel.
ADOT recommends securing cargo with ropes, bungee cords, netting or other straps and covering truck beds or trailers with a tarp. Drivers should also check that their cargo could remain in place during sudden braking or after hitting a bump.