UPDATE: Bullet hits truck on Toll Road

By Mark Schirripa
WSBT-TV

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A South Bend truck driver was nearly shot on Saturday while driving on the Indiana Toll Road.  (WSBT Photo)

A South Bend truck driver was nearly shot on Saturday while driving on the Indiana Toll Road. (WSBT Photo)

By SBT 24/7 News

A South Bend trucker is counting his blessings after a bullet landed in his cab just inches away from the driver's seat.

It happened early Saturday night along the Toll Road in LaPorte County.

Marcus Allen was hauling auto parts from Gary to Toledo, Ohio, and planning on stopping over in South Bend. Suddenly, his trip was interrupted by shattered glass.

"All of a sudden, a bullet pierced my windshield," Allen told WSBT. "It just missed me by inches and it exited my passenger side door. Actually, I think a bullet, at least one of them, is still lodged in the door frame."

An officer with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department approached a hunter in a nearby field. The hunter said he hadn’t shot anything but pointed out a house where he’d heard a couple of shots.

The county officer knocked at that house, and the man living there said he’d shot at a couple of deer on his property. The man told him he’d shot toward the bottom of the hill, not up toward the Toll Road. But police say the bullet’s trajectory seemed to come from the man’s house.

While investigating the house, police found 60 grams of pot, numerous bags of marijuana, 30 medium-sized marijuana plants under grow lights, plus about 100 starter plants in a shower. Police say the man's rifle was not legal for hunting.

Several pounds of marijuana, grow lights and the man’s rifle were seized

Allen was not hurt. The same cannot be said for his truck. The shot apparently bounced around the cab and knocked out his entire passenger window.

Allen says he was fortunate that he was not hurt and that he was traveling alone.

"Fortunately, my wife wasn't with me because sometimes she might ride with me, and it just passed through where the passenger might have been sitting."

Police are emphasizing tonight that this is an isolated incident, and there is no reason to stay off the roads.

Wednesday, Nov 26 at 12:52 PM Sonny wrote ...

To girth: Why do you assume that the "other story" is accurate. WSBT said that the police ID'd the shooter as a hunter.

Monday, Nov 24 at 11:31 AM CONERNED wrote ...

Hunting after dark? Near the highway? hmmmmm Is it just me? Thankful driver was not hurt!

Monday, Nov 24 at 10:43 AM Agree with 12:34 voo wrote ...

I sure hope "7:32 Joe" and "7:53 Nice going" read your post. They certainly wouldn't pass the test. Let's see, 4 incidents in the state with guns out of probably 1000-2000 hunters. I say that is pretty good odds that there are more safe hunters than bad ones.

Monday, Nov 24 at 7:53 AM Nice going wrote ...

This jerk was hunting, illegally! IQ 5 Hemp AR-15 = Near Death for truck driver. This shooter is soo poor that he needs to put meat on the table by hunting. He could barely afford his hemp production, the rifle or expensive ammo. Let's face it...guns and hunting keeps our redknecks happy while feeding their huge egos. Keep braggin' at the job sites boys...it makes you look so intelligent.

Monday, Nov 24 at 5:46 AM girth wrote ...

Real nice, did you guys see the other story, a "hunter" did not shoot the truck. Police asked the hunter if he shot and he said "NO". But the slanted story sitll blames the hunter. Some stupid pot-head shot a rifle at the truck. Get the story straight wsbt. "can you say drive by media?"

Monday, Nov 24 at 12:36 AM the voo wrote ...

p.s. he is coming from Gary, shouldn't he be accustomed to dodging bullets in the first place?

Monday, Nov 24 at 12:34 AM the voo wrote ...

per CDC in 2005: 25.1% of all deaths were due to motor vehicles & only 17.7% is from firearms (including suicide, homicide & accidental) Gun regulation has only proven to have the opposite effect on its design. If it requires a license to carry and drive a vehicle, then maybe we should inact regulations on inept people from having children. Less stoopid parents = less stoopid children = less stoopid population = better quality of life for all.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 3:31 PM Dillweed wrote ...

Id he was near South Bend, It could have been a stray bullet from a thug.......

Sunday, Nov 23 at 2:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Guns make me neat. When I'm out hunting and drinking endless amounts of Budweiser, the whole world knows I am totally heterosexual and everyone knows I'm the kinda guy that doesn't take guff and I talk in a no nonsense nasally voice and say things like "nnnnalright...".

Sunday, Nov 23 at 1:39 PM Tim wrote ...

A required safety course would be good. In fact a required safety course for drivers would be good too. Cars kill more people than guns do.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 12:21 PM GQ wrote ...

Every single one of you is a moron.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 8:51 AM Bubba wrote ...

I am one who is a proponent of hunting, But I do agree that anyone who wants a hunting license should have to pass a Hunters Safety Course first. They are offered several times thru the year. And also to 8:00am Anon, Yes you can use a rifle in Indiana. As of last year, You can hunrt with a rifle if it has a non tapered round of certain calibers. If you going to speak, At least know what you are talking about.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 8:39 AM John wrote ...

With the way the economy is going this might have been someone doing what they had to do to feed his family. Sorry to see it come down to it, but you are going to see more people hunting who shouldn't be. Hopefully it was just an accident.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 8:00 AM Anonymous wrote ...

It is illegal to hunt with a rifle in Indiana. Shotguns or muzzleloaders only.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 7:32 AM Joe wrote ...

Guns dont kill people! Yeah right its the bullets fault!! Less guns means less people shot!

Sunday, Nov 23 at 3:18 AM South Bend wrote ...

I dont by it what a excuse If I was anybody I would'nt drive that way for nothing in the world just because it'd hunting season.Hope they pay for the damage of this man truck

Sunday, Nov 23 at 1:32 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Well said Cornfusion! I have been saying all long that there should be some sort of way to keep irresponsible people from owning firearms. I don't want firearms banned altogether, but there are a lot of people that should not own one.

Sunday, Nov 23 at 12:42 AM Cornfusion wrote ...

So, "It's all a part of firearm deer hunting season." Seems like there's a whole lot of this kind of stuff going on out there. On the regional page there are two stories, one just in today I believe, about two day care center children being grazed. Earlier a man was charged with the accidental death of a young girl in her home. And there's still a dead horse. I don't believe these are the acts of responsible hunters but I do believe that they are acts from people who should not have firearms.

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