Large Piece Of Metal On Road Rips Through Car, Pierces 15-Year-Old Passenger
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork)-- A large gash in the seat of a Sedan only begins to tell the harrowing story of Alpesh Patel and his son Dylan's frightening brush with death.
"Worst case scenario, I think he could've died," Patel told CBS2's Scott Rapoport.
Patel said that around 10:45 Friday morning, while driving on Route 1 just north of Route 130 in North Brunswick, he noticed a large piece of metal laying in the middle of the road. He then ran over it at 55 mph.
"We couldn't avoid it," he recalled. "All the sudden I heard this loud sound. I thought the tire went flat. But within a split second I heard my son scream."
Patel said the metal object pierced through the undercarriage of his car and ripped through the passenger seat where his 15-year-old son Dylan was sitting.
"Just pierced right through his left thigh and skin. He literally has an 8-centimeter gash," Patel said.
The metal appears to be a 3 feet by 3 feet piece of steel, welded together in an X-shape.
Patel said he has no idea where the metal object came from, but that he will never forget his son's pain and anguish.
"It was a horrible scream. You don't want to hear any children scream. Especially your own," he said.
He says that his son is going to be okay, and he is thankful for that fact.
"I'm just blessed that were just fine and we're going to go home," he said.
Authorities said the metal object might have been a support beam for a spare tired under a truck. Dylan will remain in the hospital overnight and could be released as early as Saturday.