Driver 'Miraculously' Unhurt After Wood Crashes Through Windshield

A driver had a very close call in Washington state Monday night (December 28).

Kennewick police officers responded around 9 p.m. to W 10th Avenue and W 8th Place, according to a Facebook post. Officers said a vehicle crashed into a fire hydrant and into someone's fence, stopping in a homeowner's backyard.

"The wooden fence posts impaled the front windshield, coming within inches of the driver seat. Fortunately and miraculously, the driver was not injured," officials wrote. They also shared images of the wrecked car, including the piece of wood piercing the windshield.

Not only did officers determine there were no drugs or alcohol involved, the driver actually fell asleep at the wheel. The driver spent the day hiking for miles out of the state. After he was done, he drove several hours until reaching Kennewick -- that's when he fell asleep, causing the crash. Authorities said the driver was taken to a local hotel to sleep for the night.

"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year about 100,000 police-reported crashes involve drowsy driving. These crashes result in more than 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries," officers wrote in the post.

Photo: Courtesy of Kennewick Police Department