A TAXI driver says he is lucky he was not badly injured after someone shot at him during a spate of 'wild west' shootings in Worcester.
Faust Mazzocchi was behind the wheel of his Mercedes Vito in Whittington, Worcester near junction 7 (Worcester South) of the M5 when he heard 'an almighty loud noise'.
MORE STORIES
Worcester drive-by shootings - gunman fires pellets at cars
Miracle escape - family dodge death after Ripon Road crash
Fortunately, there were no passengers in his nine-seater private hire van at the time of the incident on Monday afternoon.
West Mercia Police are hunting the driver of a white BMW 3 Series after a series of similar attacks across the city the same day which officers believe are linked.
The 61-year-old driver, the former owner of the Galleria Italiana in the city's Friar Street, was around 30 to 40 metres away from the motorway roundabout, bound for Birmingham Airport, when he heard the shocking sound yesterday.
The father-of-one said: "There was an almighty loud noise and I thought something had fallen on the top of my vehicle.
"I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the rear windscreen was shattered. Then I saw a hole" he said.
He was not able to stop right away, as he was on the motorway, but pulled over near the motocross track near junction 6 and dialled 999.
"I couldn't believe it - it looked like a bullet hole. I wasn't frightened for my life but I was a bit shocked by how loud the noise was.
"If that bullet had come through at a different angle and hit me in the back of the head, I might still be on the sliproad to the M5," he said.
Mr Mazzocchi said he waited 45 minutes but nobody from West Mercia Police arrived. In the end, he could not wait any longer and had to leave to continue his work.
At the time of the incident, Mr Mazzocchi recalls another driver passing him to his right as he was about 40 yards away from the M5 roundabout near the Swan at Whittington.
"If the bullet or projectile has gone in and if I had a customer in the back somebody could have been seriously hurt. This is why I feel the way I do.
"It's crazy. It could have been so much worse. That's why I think it's a serious thing," he said.
Meanwhile, the driver of a Land Rover Discovery, who did not wish to be named, was heading towards Claines, north of Worcester on the A449 near, Hawford Lodge when he heard 'a tremendous bang' at around 4.30pm on Monday.
He pulled over in a layby further along the A449 and discovered the back window contained a 'bullet hole about the size of my little finger'.
When he reported it to the police he said there was a pause on the other end of the line as the operator told him there had been other, similar incidents reported to them.
He said: "There was no altercation with anyone on the road. I was just driving. It was definitely some sort of gun."
He believes the bullet may still be lodged in his car in the cavity between the rear windscreen wiper and the glass.
"I don't think it's bounced off. I just can't believe it. It's like being in the wild west. I have only had the vehicle a few days," he said.
A third driver said his vehicle was also targeted. He has handed dashcam footage of a vehicle to West Mercia Police.
A fourth driver shared a photo of a Ford Focus Titanium X with a smashed back window which happened at Whittington, Worcester between 4pm and 5pm on Monday.
A ball bearing was also recovered from inside a shop in Deansway, Worcester.
West Mercia Police confirmed that there were 'a number of reports of criminal damage on roads around Worcester'.
West Mercia Police has launched an appeal for witnesses.
A force spokesman said: "Between 4.30pm and 5pm on Monday we received a number of reports of criminal damage on roads around Worcester.
"At around 4.30pm a vehicle window was smashed while driving on the A449 between Ombersley and Claines. Shortly after we received reports that a shop window on Deansway, Worcester, had been shot at by what is believed to have been a pellet gun. A small ball bearing was later found inside the shop.
"Around 4.50pm we then received reports of vehicle windows being shattered while driving on the M5 between junctions 5 and 7.
"The incidents are being linked and it’s thought those responsible for the damage were in a white BMW 3 series, officers are carrying out enquiries to locate the vehicle."
Detective Sergeant Luke Papps said: “Thankfully, no-one was injured during these incidents but I understand the concern caused to the local community and want to reassure local residents that we are working to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”
DS Papps is appealing for information from the public. He added: “These incidents took place at a busy time on main roads in Worcestershire so there are likely to be people who witnessed them or have dash cam footage.
“I urge people to check CCTV or dash cam for footage which may have captured something that will help with the investigation and help us find those responsible.”
Those who saw the incident or captured it on camera are asked to get in touch.
Call 101 or report online quoting incident number 490 of 27 June.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel