Vermont couple sharing the story of a rock smashing through their windshield in Collier County

A couple on vacation from Vermont has a story for the ages after a rock fell off the back of a truck and bounced through their windshield on Tuesday.

Will and Amaryah Pendlebury say it was a lot to process. They were traveling on I-75 in Collier County when the rock dislodged from a pickup truck and came flying toward them.

The rock hit Amaryah in the shoulder where it now looks like she has a road rash. She also has glass spray all over her and has a ton of little cuts from the tiny shards, but she’s just happy this wasn’t a whole lot worse.

Signs are a big part of the Pendlebury’s world. It’s how they communicate because Will is deaf and this rock is a sign they couldn’t ignore.

“I think for me it’s just remembering that all of the small moments just really matter,” said Amaryah.

It was a big moment when the rock smashed through their windshield on I-75. Amaryah said, “I had like no idea what had just happened. I didn’t see the rock, I didn’t know where, I didn’t know what had hit us like it was just, it just felt like something dropped from the sky.”

The rock dropped from the back of a white pick-up truck. Will saw it happen and said it was scary. Amaryah translated Will’s signing saying, “the cop was happy that we didn’t swerve because the rock could’ve hit us more straight on or we could’ve rolled the jeep over.”

Amaryah said, “I could’ve died, it could’ve been really really bad.”

Instead, it makes for a really good story. One that this family will never forget on their vacation from Vermont. And a sign that will stick with them forever.

“We’re really lucky and very thankful to be able to hang out with our family today,” said Amaryah.

The rock is going back to Vermont with the couple. They said they’ll put it in their bags, the extra weight is worth it.

Now all they ask is that drivers with pickup trucks be extra mindful to tie loose things down in the back so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

Florida Highway Patrol is still looking for the pick-up truck the rock flew out of.