A veteran and his volunteer driver narrowly avoided death when a tripod came crashing through their van's windshield in California on Thursday.

The horrifying incident occurred around 10.30am as the duo were leaving Sacramento International Airport and headed southbound Interstate 5.

'I saw a yellow something out of the corner of my eye,' volunteer Tim Page - who is also a Navy veteran - explained to KCRA.

'When it hit the windshield, then I ducked and kind of bent over, a little late of course. And when I straightened up and looked over, that's when I saw this through the windshield.'

Scroll down for video

Two veterans nearly died when a tripod was launched into the vehicle they were driving near Sacramento on Thursday

Video courtesy KTXL

Page is a volunteer with the El Dorado Veteran Resources, part of the Military Family Support Group nonprofit.

He had been driving from the airport to the Mather Airport to pick another veteran. All three were then to head to Placerville.

'It was like a dream, for lack of a better description,' Page continued. 'It was very scary. And of course, seeing it with no blood spurting out was great, but at the same time, injuries don't always have blood.

When the tripod came crashing into the vehicle, Page said that it went right through the man's lung and through the other side. He was left with broken ribs and a partially punctured lung.

When the tripod came crashing into the vehicle, it pierced a veteran's lung and caused some of his shirt to get stuck inside

'Part of his shirt went into his lung as well, so it was a little scary later,' Page added. 'At the time, he didn't even want to call an ambulance.'

Both men were taken to the UC Davis Medical Center and are said to be in stable condition. The injured veteran has not been identified.

Authorities believe that 32-year-old Matthew Adam Thompson launched the tripod into traffic from the 2nd Street overpass. The California Highway Patrol believe Thompson stole the tripod from a Caltrans survey crew.

Authorities believe that 32-year-old Matthew Adam Thompson launched the tripod into traffic from the 2nd Street overpass. The California Highway Patrol believe Thompson stole the tripod from a Caltrans survey crew.

CHP Officer Jim Young explained that Thompson was filmed on surveillance video stealing the tripod from the business on Thursday. Officers caught up to the suspect on Front Street roughly three hours after the incident.

'Our sergeant, after a brief foot chase, along with another officer who was on scene with him, were able to actually take him into custody,' Young added.

Thompson was charged with resisting a peace officer and also had an active warrant for his arrest. He has not been charged yet for the tripod attack because attempted murder charges are being pursued.

Page is just happy he was able to evade other drivers and keep control of his vehicle.

'I could've lost control of the van. We both could've been out in traffic. I mean, there's numerous things that could have happened but didn't,' Page said. 'You know, it's -- life's a wonderful thing when you don't look at the bad part of life, you know, the miracles of life are great.'

Breaker Glass Co. Inc, a company in Placerville, fixed the glass of the veteran's vehicle for no extra cost.