Pregnant Woman Struck By Rock On I-5 In San Diego County

OCEANSIDE, CA — A large rock thrown from a freeway overpass struck a pregnant woman in a car on Interstate 5 in northern San Diego County on New Year's Eve, authorities said.

The incident happened at 8:47 a.m. Sunday on the I-5 overpass at Bush Street in Oceanside, according to the Oceanside Police Department.

A man on the overpass threw a football-sized rock at the car on southbound I-5, Oceanside police Lt. Ryan Erwin said. The rock went through the windshield and struck a pregnant passenger sitting in the front seat.

"An off-duty Oceanside police officer was driving behind the victim's vehicle and witnessed the incident occur and provided a description of the suspect to responding officers," Erwin said.

The victim was taken to the hospital by air ambulance. The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the unborn baby did not appear to be injured, Erwin said.

Authorities obtained surveillance video of the suspect. Police searched the area and found the suspect, identified as David Avalos, in a nearby canyon, Erwin said. He was arrested and booked into Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and throwing an object at a vehicle that resulted in an injury.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call detective Jeff Vandenburgh at 760-435-4237.