[TheForge] Shots fired? - YAK

[Walter L. Mullett]

Allright - for some of you physics buffs...

I was traveling on a 2 lane paved highway in the country and just passing a
semi coming in the opposite direction when WHAM .... my driver's side, door
window was fully crazed.  At first, there was a 2-3 inch x 1/2" slot in the
window ... just about head height and right beside me, then the whole window
slowly fell apart into my truck.

When it happened, I realized the truck's cab had just passed but I was not
yet beyond his duals.  I looked at my mirror and could also see the trucks
mirror and they were both ok.  Thinking maybe something came off the truck
or possibly that his wheel had blown, I turned around and caught up with a
truck.  Nothing was apparently wrong with the truck and it may be it wa snot
the same one I had passed since there were two cross roads between where it
happened and where I caught up with him.

When I had the window replaced, the repair shop suggested that I report it
to the police because he thought there were some shootings in the area.  I
went ahead and did that but the deputy kind of thought I was mistaken ...
maybe he even thought I was nuts.  BTW - The deputy said there was a problem
a couple of years ago in that area but nothing lately and that person was
not found.

I have done some thinking about this and there are two things that concern
me.  First is the slot that was cut in the window right beside my head.  I
saw nothing in my side vision and I have a wide vision area.  To cut this
slot, the object would have to match that size or be moving very fast at an
angle.  Second is that there was glass on my dash on the opposite side of
the truck.  That seems to mean that the trajectory of the object was in the
same direction I was going.

My questions.

What kind of force does it take to break this window?
Do you think anything thrown up from the front wheels of the truck could
have enough power in the limited angle it would have?

I think maybe someone behind me and facing the truck was aiming at the
truck's windshield and missed.

Any comments?

Walt