Woman seriously hurt by rock thrown at 101 Freeway

A trip home from Los Angeles International Airport turned into a bloody drive of terror for Brian Dalto after his wife, Monica Dalto, 36, was struck by a softball-sized rock that crashed through the sunroof of their 2006 Acura.

The couple was returning home to Ventura from vacation when the more than 1-pound rock hit Monica's head, knocking her unconscious as they drove in the middle lane under the Wendy Drive overpass of the northbound 101 Freeway at 9:30 p.m. Wed., June 11.

The rock landed in an infant car seat in the back that would usually be holding their 1yearold daughter, Ella, who wasn't with them at the time.

Brian kept his wits about him. He tried to call 911 using his cellphone, and when it didn't work, he drove as fast as he could to St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, according to Russ Whitmeyer, Monica's uncle.

"There was blood all over the car. When he got her to the hospital, they did brain surgery and removed particles of her skull from the brain and inserted a titanium plate," said Whitmeyer, a retired Ventura County Sheriff's Department deputy and private investigator.

Monica is expected to make a full recovery, Whitmeyer said, but she won't be working for about a month. She's a Ventura County probation officer.

Two people have called Whitmeyer and told him their windshields were broken by an object when they went under the Wendy Drive overpass on the 101 Freeway on June 11. One person called him and said his windshield was damaged when he drove under the Rancho Conejo Boulevard 101 Freeway overpass on June 13.

"I think it is important for people in the Conejo Valley to know this is occurring," said Whitmeyer, a resident of Ojai.

California Highway Patrol officer and spokesperson Brandon Mumme said he hadn't heard of any reports of windshields being broken as described by callers to Whitmeyer. He said such occurrences should be reported to law enforcement.

Anyone with additional information should call CHP Officer J. Howell at (805) 553-0800.

Whitmeyer and his wife, Leta, are offering a $2,000 reward to the first person who provides information identifying and convicting the person responsible for the rock crashing through the car. He said Ventura County Crime Stoppers has offered an additional $1,000 reward. The tipster can remain anonymous, he said.

To contact Crime Stoppers, call (800) 222-8477.