PETERSBURG, Va. — A Petersburg couple says their Jeep was totaled after a chunk of ice flew off a tractor-trailer traveling on the opposite side of Interstate 95 and slammed into their vehicle near the Maury Street exit, underscoring the dangers of not clearing winter debris from vehicles.

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Felicia and Flynn Martinez said they were driving northbound on I-95 when the ice launched across the interstate and hit with explosive force.

“I just heard this resounding boom and it just looked like white glass was everywhere,” Felicia Martinez said. “I saw part of the vehicle flapping in the wind, so I knew we were in bad shape.”

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Flynn Martinez compared the impact to “hitting a brick wall.”

The couple said the ice bent the radiator and packed the engine bay with chunks of ice, leaving the Jeep a total loss. Lt. Shawn Kopelove with Henrico Police said that while clearing snow and ice off vehicles is not required by law, drivers can still face consequences.

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“You can be held liable if it flies off and causes an accident,” Kopelove said.

Police say they’ve seen an uptick in flying-ice incidents following the storm, including cracked windshields and injuries from shattered glass, according to Kopelove.

The Martinez family said the Jeep was used to support Felicia’s professional cleaning business, and they’re now searching for a replacement while urging other drivers to remove ice before getting on the road.

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“It really does matter,” Flynn Martinez said. “It’s small, but it really could be something very significant.”

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