Three drivers targeted by rock throwers on the Southern Expressway, taking number of attacks for 2018 to 40

ANOTHER three motorists have been victims of rock throwing on the Southern Expressway as the total number of incidents so far this year hits 40.

A smashed windscreen after a rock-throwing incident south of the Sherriffs Road on June 21, 2018. Picture: SAPOL.

ANOTHER three motorists have been the victims of rock throwing on the Southern Expressway as the total number of incidents so far this year hits 40.

A male driver was heading north on the Southern Expressway near Lonsdale when he heard something hit his car at about 6.05am on Friday.

He checked his car and found a small dent on the bonnet about the size of a five cent coin. The projectile is thought to have been thrown from the side of the road. The incident was reported to police on yesterday.

A woman driving north on the freeway between Beach Rd and Sherrifs Rd heard a bang on the rear passenger side fender area at 10.45pm on Friday.

She pulled over quickly and noticed a small dent on the rear fender.

At 5.21pm, another female driver was travelling south on the expressway near Glenhelen Parth with something was allegedly thrown in the direction of her vehicle.

She did not see anyone and there was no damage to the car.

In the last two incidents, police immediately searched the area but no suspects were found and no rocks were located. None of the drivers or their passengers were injured.

Police are investigating all three incidents as rock throwing — a total of nine attack in the past five days.

A rock struck a windscreen of a car travelling north along the Southern Expressway, south of the Sherriffs Road intersection, in the early morning of June 21, 2018. Picture: SAPOL.

McLaren Vale resident John O’Sullivan told The Advertiser culprits threw a rock from a path alongside the expressway at his new Mustang convertible in January.

“I have a stronger windscreen because it’s a convertible and it shattered that,” he said.

“I got home and it had two dents on the far left hand side of the bonnet and my windscreen was smashed.”

The damage bill was $4000 and Mr O’Sullivan reported the incident in May after several other reports of rock-throwing on the expressway were made.

Glenhelen Path on the Southern Expressway, where a woman reported a possible rock throwing on Friday peak afternoon traffic. Picture: DYLAN COKER

The spate of attacks has also prompted locals to join a Facebook action group to help keep the community informed and share prevention ideas.

Thirteen CCTV cameras have recently been installed along the expressway, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said.

Any motorists who becomes a victim of objects being thrown at their car while driving are asked to stop their vehicle when safe and contact the Police immediately on triple-0.

Anyone with information about any incident of rock throwing is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

ROCK THROWING ATTACKS IN 2018