Supposed Prank Could Have Killed Wilmot Senior

WILMOT, SD - An apparent prank came close to costing a Wilmot teenager her life.

The high school senior was driving down Interstate 29 last weekend when a massive metal bolt came crashing through her windshield.

Tom Nordquist says the J-bolt that hit his daughter Cassie’s windshield was about two feet long.  It hit with enough force to cause $1,700 worth of damage.  But he's just thankful it wasn't worse.

"Well, I was driving down I-29 early Saturday morning," Cassie Nordquist said. "The semi in front of me started swerving so it kind of made me suspicious if something was going on."

That was below an overpass between Wilmot and Peever. Then the 18 year old came to the overpass herself.

"And a J-bolt went through my windshield unexpectedly and it shocked me," Cassie said.

The heavy bolt came through the windshield right at the center of the steering wheel, in line to hit Cassie dead on.

"It actually hit the side of my hand. So if my hand would have been over just one more inch, it could have gone through my hand," Cassie said.

"It could have went through the windshield and killed her.  Very lucky that she wasn't killed," Tom said.

Part of the heavy piece of metal stuck in the windshield, preventing it from coming through any farther, and Cassie was able to pull over and call her dad.

The family later learned that whoever dropped the J-bolt from the overpass dropped one on a semi as well.

As the Roberts County Sheriff's Office looks for the person or people behind the crime, the Nordquists are simply thankful, knowing the outcome could have been so much worse.

"They should probably think of the consequences that could come with doing something like that," Cassie said.

"This can't be going on; somebody's going to get killed," Tom said.

Nordquist was alone in the car at the time. She suffered minor injuries, including glass in her eye.

If you have any information on the crimes, call the Roberts County Sheriff's Office.