Sudden impact

By Lia Bichel
Jashar Rustemi, 43, said money should be spent to put cages or barriers on the overpasses to try to prevent similar incidences.
His comments come after police said a group of about six youths were throwing rocks onto oncoming vehicles from the Prospect Hill Road overpass in Narre Warren about 5.30pm on 28 September.
Police believe the youths are aged between 12 and 16.
Mr Rustemi, from Devon Meadows, said he had lasting physical effects after he was hit by a large stone thrown through his delivery truck on the Monash Freeway near the Warragul Road exit in May last year.
“I don’t remember anything except my son, who was driving the truck, screaming at me not to die,” he said.
“I am told I did die for three minutes. I drifted in and out of consciousness. I broke my ribs, collarbone, shoulder and right arm.”
Mr Rustemi was in intensive care in The Alfred hospital for a couple weeks and had several operations. He still experiences pain in the ribs and a sore back.
Mr Rustemi said he was not scared to get back into a vehicle after his hospital release, but has had a similarly frightening experience since.
“I was driving at almost the same spot on the Monash Freeway when someone threw what looked like a water balloon from the overpass,” he said.
“And a week ago, there were some young kids near an overpass and it scared the hell out of me. They were just spitting on cars but I almost slammed on the brakes on the freeway.”
Mr Rustemi said he had heard about a number of similar incidents and believed the State Government should be spending money on barriers to prevent these problems.
“It’s not going to stop, it just keeps getting worse,” he said.
“People have died from being hit with stones. It’s not a joke. Kids will be kids, and if they really want to do something it’s hard to stop them, but at least we can make it more difficult for them.”
Anyone with information about the Narre Warren incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 888 000 or Constable Peita Stokes on 9705 3111.