While running a few errands late this afternoon I witnessed a fairly rough traffic accident and truck pretty much t-boned a woman who backed out in front of him. Everyone was okay but will be sore tomorrow because the safety devices but there was one scary thing I did see.
The guy driving the truck had a pistol, a S&W Shield, muzzle down in the console cup holder. When we got to him he was fine and air bags, both the steering wheel and side curtain had deployed. I went in the passenger side since he was alone and checked on him ... he was stunned but okay. I told him not to move and wait for the VFD’s Rescue Squad to check him out. As I was getting ready to get out to make sure there was no danger from other things I saw a pistol IN the winshield. I asked him if it was his and had it hit him. He said it was his and he had placed in in his cup holder (he did have a CHP and the Trooper was the one who secured it from the windshield). We kinda figured out the impact launched it hard enough to hit the windshield hard enough for the upper rear part of the slide and rear sight to imbed partially thru the windshield.
The gun was loaded with one in the chamber. It took a little force for the Trooper to remove it but he had no problem popping the mag out and clearing the chamber. I don’t think the Shield was damaged at all (except I’d check the sight alignment if it where me). Kinda shows how good a Shield is.
Now the Public Service Announcement for this is ... SECURE YOU PISTOL or other objects that can take flight in the event you are involved in a vehicle accident. The Shield has some decent mass as do most handguns and they need to be secured better than laying on the console or seat, stuck down in a cup holder or such. Also think about other items and even if you stash them on the floorboard behind the front seat it might prevent them from turning into a projectile in an accident.
The guy driving the truck had a pistol, a S&W Shield, muzzle down in the console cup holder. When we got to him he was fine and air bags, both the steering wheel and side curtain had deployed. I went in the passenger side since he was alone and checked on him ... he was stunned but okay. I told him not to move and wait for the VFD’s Rescue Squad to check him out. As I was getting ready to get out to make sure there was no danger from other things I saw a pistol IN the winshield. I asked him if it was his and had it hit him. He said it was his and he had placed in in his cup holder (he did have a CHP and the Trooper was the one who secured it from the windshield). We kinda figured out the impact launched it hard enough to hit the windshield hard enough for the upper rear part of the slide and rear sight to imbed partially thru the windshield.
The gun was loaded with one in the chamber. It took a little force for the Trooper to remove it but he had no problem popping the mag out and clearing the chamber. I don’t think the Shield was damaged at all (except I’d check the sight alignment if it where me). Kinda shows how good a Shield is.
Now the Public Service Announcement for this is ... SECURE YOU PISTOL or other objects that can take flight in the event you are involved in a vehicle accident. The Shield has some decent mass as do most handguns and they need to be secured better than laying on the console or seat, stuck down in a cup holder or such. Also think about other items and even if you stash them on the floorboard behind the front seat it might prevent them from turning into a projectile in an accident.