NJ truck driver hit with sheet of snow thought he was going to die

MANSFIELD TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- It was a close call for a truck driver after a large sheet of snow came crashing into his windshield while driving on the New Jersey Turnpike Wednesday evening.

Noah Williams said it happened near Exit 6 on the Turnpike while he was driving behind an 18-wheeler truck with snow still packed on its roof.

"It smacks my truck, smacks the windshield. I had a bunch of glass fly into my face," recalls Williams. "I almost lost control."

Williams said his only thought at the moment was surviving.

"(I thought) I was going to die, for sure," Williams said. "Death, that's it."

He attempted to flag down the operator of the 18-wheeler, but the driver kept going.

Williams filed a report with New Jersey State Police.

Incidents like this are unfortunately not uncommon and are a big concern for drivers on both Pennsylvania and New Jersey turnpikes.

"It's really annoying when people don't take the courtesy to clean off their cars, especially trucks. It's a lot of snow," driver Fadienne Nicaisse of Washington D.C. told Action News.

Officials in New Jersey are reminding drivers this week of the law to clear their car's roofs and hoods of snow before getting behind the wheel, especially with more inclement weather in the forecast.

Williams said he's been driving a truck for six years and this is the first time something like this happened.

"It doesn't take that long to go to your car, wipe the snow off and save a life," Williams said.