Loose gravel from Placer County road repairs being blamed for broken vehicle windows
ROSEVILLE – For months, windows mysteriously exploded while cars drove through a stretch of I-80.
For a while, drivers feared the worst.
According to Caltrans District 3, the road deteriorated between Rocklin and Roseville following massive rain throughout the winter.
Almost word-for-word, Bonnie Morse experienced the same harrowing moments as other drivers.
"We're driving along and suddenly hear a sound that sounds like a gunshot," said Bonnie Morse.
It happened late February during a return trip home to the Bay Area from Nevada, she said.
Her rear passenger window blew out.
After watching a CBS13 report, she reached out looking for answers.
"It's really frustrating because, like I said, if this was like a one-off thing that's one thing," Morse said.
Caltrans says back-to-back winter storms battered the highway.
Crumbling asphalt led to loose gravel which sometimes led to damaged windows.
"We were aware of the problem," said Steve Nelson, a public information officer of Caltrans District 3. "We started sweeping it daily, multiple times during the rain."
Caltrans said it has received 91 customer service requests since Jan. 1.
Last week, a contractor began pavement repairs between Sierra College and Douglas boulevards.
Why did it take so long?
The department said putting down hot asphalt requires temperatures of at least 45 degrees.
Meanwhile, it reports it received more than 160 claims.
But, do not expect a payout.
"We do pay out claims, but traditionally for cracked windows we're not going to pay that out because we're aware of the situation and we're working to fix," Nelson said.
It costs $519 for Morse to get her window replaced.
Caltrans rejected her claim.
Now, she is asking why.
"It seems a little sketch on multiple levels – particularly because presumably this has started because probably of the rains," Morse said. "But that stretch in Rocklin is not the only stretch of roadway in California that's been experiencing high rains."
Moving forward, she wants to see the department be held accountable.
"If I screwed up like this at work, my clients would expect me to take responsibility for it," she said. "Why aren't they taking responsibility?"