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On Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, Hoover patrol officers responded to I-65 South, near the Old Rocky Ridge Road overpass. A couple was traveling southbound when a large piece of concrete struck the hood of their vehicle and then crashed through the windshield.

(Hoover Police)

An investigation is underway in Hoover after vehicles in at least four separate incidents were struck by a rock or other projective while traveling on or near Interstate 65.

Any of the incidents, said police Chief Nick Derzis, could have caused serious injury or death to those inside the vehicles, as well as the danger of traffic accidents. The most recent incident happened about 2 p.m. Friday, and police recover a rock roughly the size of a football.

"We really don't know if this is someone's sick idea of a joke or prank but it's really disturbing,'' said Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector. "It's a serious situation and if we're able to identify this person then there will be serious consequences."

The first two incidents happened Wednesday at 12:37 p.m., and 2:40 p.m. on I-65 southbound between Alford Avenue and Highway 31. In those cases, both vehicles were traveling southbound when something struck the rear windshield, causing it to shatter.

A third incident happened Thursday at 12:40 a.m. on Interstate 459 South near the I-65 interchange. The victim in that told police he was driving when something struck a rear vent window, causing it to shatter. No injuries were reported in any of those incidents.

On Friday, Hoover patrol officers responded to the fourth call on I-65 South, near the Old Rocky Ridge Road overpass. A couple was traveling southbound when a large piece of concrete struck the hood of their vehicle and then crashed through the windshield. The driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and stop on the shoulder. Both the driver and occupant were checked by paramedics at the scene but were not injured.

"This is certainly a situation that causes a tremendous amount of concern. We felt like the first two windows that were shattered were probably done by a small rock or possibly a pellet gun since there was no rock or other projectile present in those vehicles,'' Rector said. "And now today we have a large rock that entered the front windshield of the victim's car and it clearly had the potential to be deadly. Even more troubling is that this has now occurred at more than one location."

"The motorists whose cars have been struck are pretty shaken up so it's been difficult to determine the exact locations of the suspect or suspects doing this,'' Rector said. "We feel like there is a good probability that this individual is throwing rocks from the overpasses."

He said the reports received so far have happened on I-65 near Alford Avenue, I-65 near the Old Rocky Ridge Road overpass and I-459 near the I-65 interchange. "We're also not ruling out the possibility that someone could be tossing rocks from another moving vehicle,'' Rector said.

Hoover police will be increasing patrols near interstate bridges and overpasses. Suspicious activity in these locations should be reported immediately to the Hoover Police Department at 205-822-5300, or by calling 911.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to call Sgt. Clint Blackmon at 205-444-7582. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward can call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.