Pregnant woman injured after large rock hits vehicle from I-5 overpass
By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–A pregnant woman was injured in a vehicle from a large rock that was thrown from the Interstate 5 overpass in Oceanside Sunday morning, authorities said.
Oceanside police officers responded to reports just before 9 a.m. of an individual who threw a large rock off the bridge at Bush Street striking a car on I-5. The victims were located just south of the overpass on the freeway.
Officers learned the victims were driving southbound on I-5 when they saw an individual on the overpass above them throw a large football-sized rock at their vehicle. The rock went through the vehicle’s windshield and struck a pregnant female passenger who was sitting in the front seat of the vehicle. An off-duty Oceanside police officer was driving behind the victim’s vehicle witnessed the incident occur and provided a description of the suspect to responding officers.
According to the Oceanside Police Department, the victim was transported by air ambulance due to the nature of her injuries. She sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and her unborn child did not appear to be injured.
During the investigation, video surveillance was obtained of the suspect. A search of the area was conducted by officers, utilizing an Unmanned Aerial System, who located the suspect in a nearby canyon. The suspect, identified as David Avalos, was arrested at the scene without incident. Avalos was later booked into Vista Detention Facility for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and throwing an object at a vehicle with injury.
If anyone has additional information about this incident, contact Detective Vandenburgh at (760) 435-4237.
