Truck driver speaks out after object thrown off I-80 overpass

TIFFIN, Iowa - An early Sunday incident could have killed two truck drivers on Interstate 80.

Iowa State Patrol confirms someone dropped an object from an overpass near Tiffin and hit the windshield of two semi tractor-trailers.

“I was coming from Omaha headed to Chicago,” said truck driver Kim Heath.

Heath had some 45,000 pounds of steaks to get from one city to next. But at about 3 a.m. an unexpected incident derailed his plans.

“As I passed under the overpass I heard a loud explosion and my windshield shattered,” Heath said.

According to Heath and authorities a Styrofoam cup filled with ice fell from the overpass. And Heath wasn't alone.

” And within a matter of seconds another trucker pulled over right in front of me,” Heath said.

Trooper from the state patrol inspected the overpass for evidence. They found beer bottles next to the edge, Heath said.

“Drinking beer and probably thinking it was funny, but it's not funny when somebody gets killed,” Heath said.

Despite being out of work, days behind schedule and rattled from the experience, Heath says it could have been worse.

“Had it hit my windshield a little bit higher it would have gone through my windshield and taken my head off,” he said.

And that could have caused a serious pile up, so Heath has a warning.

“Get a life before you kill somebody."

Heath says he'll likely spend another night in Eastern Iowa until his company can send him truck to complete his delivering.