A driver and his wife escaped serious injury Sunday after a tire came crashing into their car on U.S. 75 in McKinney.
Russ and Linda Ellis were near the exit for the Sam Rayburn Tollway when the tire suddenly bounced into their Toyota Prius.
“I am driving along listening to the Cowboys, and all of a sudden I see this tire flying over the concrete barrier,” said Russ Ellis.
His wife, Linda, was the passenger. She is a teacher and was grading papers on the drive.
“All of a sudden my husband yelled, 'Tire,' because the tire was flying at the car, and before I could even look, it had hit the windshield,” said Linda Ellis.
Russ Ellis said the whole episode took just a few seconds but seemed like an eternity.
“It just hit right where the roof and windshield meet, and it hit my head real hard. It caved in the roof real hard and smashed in the windshield,” said Russ Ellis.
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At that point, they said there was no shock. Instinct kicked in, and they knew they had to get the car off the road. Linda Ellis had to steer from the passenger seat, because her husband's glasses were shattered.
They pulled over, and then, it all set in.
“You just got to be grateful because there is nothing else you can do but leave it in someone else's hands,” said Linda Ellis.
Linda Ellis called an ambulance, because Russ Ellis had cuts and bruises on his face and arms. He is doing fine now and was even able to go to work Monday.
Their car was towed, and they hope it is fixable. But, in the meantime, they are just glad both of them are OK.
“Thank God for small miracles,” added Russ Ellis.
