Mum and kids showered with glass after stone dropped onto car off M62 bridge
Police have issued a warning as half-term approaches
12:52, 21 May 2025
The damage caused(Image: UGC/MEN)
A mum says she was showered with glass after a stone was dropped onto the windscreen of her car from a motorway bridge over the M62[1].
Three children - one a six month-old baby - were in the car at the time, but thankfully they all escaped unhurt. Ellishia Lord, 21, said both her and the older children were left shaken and in tears by the attack.
Images Ellishia has provided to the Manchester Evening News show the huge crack in the car's windscreen and small glass fragments all over the seats. She said they immediately alerted Greater Manchester Police[2] from the hard shoulder after dialling 999 on the motorway.
As school half-term looms, Ellishia said: "People, especially kids, need to know the dangers of throwing stuff off bridges down onto motorways.
I had glass all over me and it was terrifying."
Ellishia, from Linthwaite in Huddersfield, was a front seat passenger in a Cupra Formentor being driven by her partner, Daniel. The three children - boys aged five, 11 and six months - were in the back seats.
Police are investigating(Image: UGC/MEN)Article continues below
The couple were driving to Bury[3] at the time so her eldest son could attend football training. Ellishia, 21, told how she heard a 'huge bang' as they passed under a bridge over the M62 just past Rochdale[4] at around 5.30pm on Tuesday night.
She said: "My partner, Daniel, was driving and we were going to Bury football club.
It happened just after we passed Rochdale. I just remember having glass all over me. My eldest son, who was sat in the middle in the back, said he saw glass coming towards him as well.
"We just heard this huge bang and glass was falling everywhere.
We do not know what it was that was dropped. It must have been a stone or a brick, probably a stone. I had my leg up and all of a sudden, we just heard a massive bang.
It all happened so quickly. I remember closing my eyes and flinching, then screaming. I opened my eyes and there was glass everywhere."
The M62(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Ellishia said her partner, Daniel, managed to remain in control of the car and drive forward before pulling over onto the hard shoulder.
They dialled 999 and National Highways arrived first before the police. A lane of the motorway was subsequently closed off.
The couple managed to drive to nearby motorway services and they were all subsequently taken back home to Huddersfield in a recovery truck.
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"The police circled the whole area, but they could not find anybody," said Ellishia. "Everyone is fine - it was just a shock to be honest. People need to be aware.
The highways people said things like this were happening too often. I just do not think kids really understand the dangers of doing something like this.
"It shook me up, even more so because we had the kids in the car with us as well."
The cracked windscreen(Image: UGC/MEN)
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident was reported to the force and said officers were sent to the scene.
A GMP spokesperson said: "It goes without saying that behaviour such as this is reckless and it puts multiple lives in danger. Not only can it cause serious damage to vehicles, but even more worryingly, it can result in serious injury to those travelling in the vehicle and potentially cause a devastating collision.
Article continues below"We would encourage young people to think about the consequences of a spilt-second silly decision or an attempt to show off, that it can have serious consequences for them and others.
"In addition to this, we would also like to appeal to parents.
As we move into warmer weather[6] and school holidays approach, I ask that you check what your children are up to, and where they are going, as well as speaking with them about the importance of making safe and responsible decisions."