SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio driver has a warning after her journey home took an unexpected turn Sunday evening.
Patti Garcia said she was on Loop 410 near Highway 151 and noticed from a distance up ahead there was a stranded driver. Garcia said she decided to move over to another lane.
What happened next is something she said she didn't see coming.
"The reflection from the sun made it invisible, it looked like the pavement," Garcia said. "I didn't see it until I was on top of it. It was the full bumper."
Garcia said she pulled over to the side of the busy road, at the time not fully realizing what she hit.
"All I could think of was money," she said. "This is going to cost me money. Second thought was trying to keep the car under control."
Garcia said she immediately knew who to call: TxDOT's HERO Program, a free Highway Emergency Response Operator.
"I call them all the time when I see obstructions on the roads," she said. "Because I worry somebody is going to hit it and they are going to get hurt. Yesterday, was my day."
TxDOT HERO helps with several things, like removing debris from the roadways.
Several years ago, AAA did a study about road debris and looked at the problem across the nation.
AAA Texas Spokesperson Doug Shupe, discussed the study with KENS 5.
"You don't have to drive far in San Antonio to see road debris out there," Shupe said. "AAA looked at road debris incidents between 2011-2014. During that time frame, there were 200,000 on the roads all across America that involved road debris."
He said drivers aren't maintaining their cars and when hauling things, they're not securing the load properly.
As for Garcia, she's thankful she wasn't seriously hurt. But her car has major damage. She is sharing her story so others can be aware.
"I just wanted to be sure that folks know that this program is out there," Garcia said.
TxDOT HERO also helps with changing flats, giving air to low tires, adding gas and water and removing minor crashes from the roadway.
You can contact them at 210-732-HERO.
Garcia also emphasized a number located behind the Texas Driver License for Roadside Assistance, that number is 1-800-525-5555.