NEWELL, Pa. -- A young Belle Vernon man is charged in connection with a rock injury that left a female driver with stitches and deep, purple bruising around her right eye in Fayette County.
"I was afraid to take my hands away from my face because it felt like my face was just gone. It just felt like it was gone or my eye wasn't there," Debra Combs, told Channel 4 Action News this week.
Southwest Regional Police said George Stevens, 18, was arraigned Thursday morning on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, propulsion of missiles into an occupied vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment.
"There was certain damage to the car. There are medical expenses that have to be covered and so forth, and clearly, there are a lot of charges that apply to this," Police Chief John Hartman said.
Combs, 55, said she was driving on Third Street in Newell on Saturday night when a rock came through one of her vehicle's windows, which was lowered about halfway.
Combs told Channel 4 Action News reporter Shannon Perrine that she was riding in a car with her sister when she heard someone scream.
As she turned to see if someone needed help, Combs was struck by the rock. She was then rushed to Mon Valley Hospital.
Combs said she feels lucky that nothing worse happened to her. She described herself as forgiving, but hopes the person who's responsible realizes that the injuries could have been more severe.
"I could have been dead or I could have lost my sight," said Combs.
Copyright 2009 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
