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Road Reflectors Creating Horror On NYC Highways

Incidents Of Metal Devices Coming Loose And Flying Through Windshields Occurring At An Alarming Rate

NEW YORK (CBS) ― There is a hidden danger on tri-state area roads. Road reflectors are supposed to keep you safe, providing increased visibility at night and during inclement weather.

But these markers are creating hazardous conditions on the roadway, resulting in serious injury to drivers and passengers.

For the last four years Rosemary Wittels has been haunted by the horrific accident that nearly took her life. On a February night in 2004 she was riding in a car with her husband on the Belt Parkway when suddenly...

"There was an explosion. That's the best way I can describe it. I really just found myself curled over with my right hand covering the right side of my face," Wittels said.

"I think there's a very good likelihood I could have been killed, we both could have been killed."

The road reflector had flown through the Wittels' windshield and struck Wittels head, shattering the right side of her face, splitting the roof of her mouth and breaking her nose.

"My half of the windshield was gone. I was covered in glass; blood was dripping down my face."

On the surface the devices seem perfectly harmless, but the danger lies beneath the roadway. The plastic reflector sits atop a metal base that is anchored to the ground and weighs about six pounds.

Wittel's attorney alleges after years of road wear and lack of maintenance by the city the reflector was likely popped loose by passing snow plows.

"And it was in the roadway and something knocked it up and made it airborne," George Saccos said.

CBS 2 HD saw firsthand what years of road wear has done to reflectors on the belt parkway. We saw prongs above ground and clearly damaged.

The problem is not just in New York. Illinois has reported dozens of cases involving these metal reflectors.

In 2003, a reflector in Illinois tore through Dr. Patricia O'Brien's windshield and face. In 2005, 7-year-old C.J. Volkman's face was slashed by a flying reflector in Missouri.

And it's alleged a damaged reflector in Kentucky punctured a tire that caused Rachel Buckman's SUV to flip over, killing her.

Wittels considers herself lucky and hopes the city removes the reflectors to prevent the worst.

"It's still out there, and could be hurting other people," she said. "And I think something needs to be done about it."

The Wittels are taking the city to civil court on Monday. City officials say they acknowledge the tragic nature of this case, but can't comment on pending litigation.

They did say the city was not aware the metal reflectors were a problem to motorists, but they have been phasing them out of the roadways. The change was not in response to the Wittels' case.

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