Yobs who throw bricks from motorway footbridges in Leeds are potential killers, police have said.
The warning comes after a driver was hit by a rock that smashed through the window of his car as he drove at 50mph on the M621.
The 25-year-old was travelling westbound along the motorway on Saturday night (Oct 12) when the missile was dropped through the windscreen of his Peugeot 306 at about 11.45pm.
Police initially thought it had been thrown from the footbridge near junction seven, but have since established it came from the walkway at junction four between Hillidge Road and Burton Row, Hunslet.
The driver was hit in the chest by the rock, but managed to keep control of his vehicle and brought it to a stop safely on the hard shoulder before officers and paramedics arrived.
He suffered only minor injuries and did not attend hospital.
It was the latest incident of a brick being thrown from bridges over the M621.
Sgt Sam Greaves, of Holbeck Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Fortunately in this case there was no serious injury, but it could clearly have had far more serious consequences to the driver and other road users.
“Footbridges are there for a purpose – to allow people to cross the motorway safely, not to be used for throwing projectiles onto the carriageway.
“If it carries on, someone could get very badly hurt or even killed.”
It is thought that there have been three similar incidents in the last month.
Officers have carried out house-to-house enquiries in the area and are checking CCTV to try to identify those involved.
Leeds City Council’s street cleaning service has been to the bridge to remove potential missiles.
Sgt Greaves said officers would be carrying out extra patrols in the area.
Anyone who saw people acting suspiciously on the footbridge or who has any information should call Holbeck police station via 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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