Every time Lisa Blixhavn tells the story of how she almost lost her eye, the reaction from others is complete disgust, she says.
The 36-year-old was driving from Winnipeg to Morden on Highway 3 in 2006 when a passing motorist tossed a full two-litre bottle of pop at her windshield.
Her windshield shattered, causing glass shards to tear through her left eyelid and tear duct.
“There was blood everywhere. There was glass everywhere. They thought I was going to lose my eye,” said Blixhavn.
The schoolteacher, who now lives in Killarney with her husband and two young kids, said to this day fluorescent lighting gives her severe headaches and she has to take daily medication for glaucoma. Doctors believe one day she will lose her sight. She has already had to stop driving at night.
“My life is forever changed. The life of my children, who weren’t even born at the time, they will have a mom who will be blind.”
The driver who threw the bottle was never caught.
The news that two 13-year-olds have been arrested for throwing rocks at cars off a Pembina Highway overpass onto Bishop Grandin Boulevard in Winnipeg has her incensed.
READ MORE: Boys nabbed for tossing rocks off Winnipeg overpass, endangering life
“It’s completely idiotic,” said Blixhavn.
Four cars were hit by the rocks, causing about $2,500 damage. Three of the motorists who were struck immediately pulled over to chase down the teens. When a teen was caught, he allegedly threw a punch at one of the drivers. Police stopped another teen, who allegedly then assaulted a police officer.
Two 13-year-olds have been charged with four counts of mischief endangering life; one is also charged with assault and the other with assaulting a police officer. A third youth hasn’t been caught.
Blixhavn said she knows what those drivers would have felt when they heard their windshield crack.
“I remember that feeling; I remember feeling scared.”
She said she’s retelling her story as a reminder to others how something so silly can change a life forever.
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