Teens charged in rock-throwing that seriously hurt driver

BURLINGTON, KY (FOX19) - Two juveniles were charged Monday with throwing a large rock into the windshield of a car and seriously injuring 64-year-old driver, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

The 14 -year-old and 15 year-old are being held at the Campbell Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

William Wehner was on KY-237 (Northbend Road) near County Club Lane in Burlington, Kentucky, when the juveniles hurled the rock into the windshield at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, deputies said.

“What these boys did was attempted murder,” said his daughter, Meg Oleson, in a statement.

It was the second reported incident of the evening in the area, according to the sheriff’s office.

The juveniles are both students at the Boone County Alternative Center for Education.

The 14-year-old is charged with assault and criminal mischief. The 15-year-old is charged with complicity to assault for his involvement in the injury and criminal mischief.

A man was injured when a rock was thrown through his windshield on Saturday.

Wehner’s face was seriously injured, but deputies say that he was able to pull his car off the road.

He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

His daughter issued a statement that reads in its entirety:

"What these boys did was attempted murder. At age 14 & 15, they are capable of understanding a car coming at you 55 mph and a 5 lb rock, the blunt force will/could be deadly. One inch higher and they would have murdered my father. Luckily, his face and cheek bones took the blow and not his brain.

"This is NOT assault. This is attempted murder. What they did was cowardly and reckless, and have no place is society with their behavior. They did this to a man who would have given anyone the shirt off his back and is the kindest man I have ever met.

Our voices need to be heard and hoping with the help of everyone else’s voice justice can be served. What is failed to be mentioned or have any repercussions are the parents in charge of these boys. They are minors! A mother and fathers job is to raise a responsible and respectful human being and to make sure they are not causing anyone harm, this did not happen.

"They have failed us and they have failed their own children. somehow under our justice system the parents in charge of the minors will get away free of consequence. I hope this can change and all the parties involved will all be held accountable for their actions. what they have done will be well into a (six) figure range financially, my children (his grandchildren) have been hysterical for days.

"My dad is is so upset, as we all are. He’s been bleeding out of his eyes for days now, waiting for surgery to lift up half of his facial skin and add metal to reconstruct his cheek bones, repair cracked eye socket and jaw. This is not O.K. and he has truly been let down by this family.

"This is not ‘2 boys having fun.’ This is real and and they have changed this man’s and our family’s lives permanently. I urge this to not be taken lightly and expect from our justice system to make the right choices.

“And to the boys who felt strong and tough throwing rocks at innocent people: Well, you lost and you will continue to lose until you grow up and be a man.”