Man Killed After Concrete Thrown From Bridge

Tennessee man was hit in the face
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 21, 2018 3:18 AM CST
Concrete Thrown From Bridge Causes Fatal Wreck
Police released this photo of the wrecked vehicle.   (Metro Nashville Police Department)

A 54-year-old man on his way to work early Tuesday was killed after a chunk of concrete went through his windshield—and police don't believe it was an accident. Investigators believe the concrete was thrown from the Shelby Avenue bridge in Nashville onto Interstate 24 below, the Tennessean reports. It went through the windshield of Joe Shelton's Nissan GTR and hit him in the face around 4:54am. Shelton, who was on his way to work at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, was found dead at the scene.

Police say Shelton's vehicle sideswiped a pickup truck and a guardrail before coming to a stop, WTVC reports. "We are saddened to learn of Joe's passing," Nissan North America said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathies are with his family members, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time." Police say Tennessee Department of Transportation bridge inspectors examined the chunk of concrete and determined it was probably a piece of curb, not part of the bridge. They are now reviewing surveillance footage and have urged anybody with information to come forward. (Last year, a 32-year-old Michigan man was killed by a rock thrown from an overpass.)

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