NHTSA Complaint #10836183 — 2005 LEXUS RX330

I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT HAND LANE ON THURSDAY, DEC. 16 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:45 PM. I ENTERED I 680S AT THE BOLLINGER CANYON ROAD EXIT AND I WAS APPROACHING THE ALCOSTA BLVD EXIT. I HIT SOMETHING I ASSUME WAS IN THE ROAD BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND THE ITEM FLEW UP IN THE AIR AFTER THE IMPACT. I DIDN'T STOP, BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND I HEARD A WHIRRING SOUND. I CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION TO THE HILTON GARDEN INN IN LIVERMORE WHERE I WAS MEETING A FRIEND, WHO WAS STAYING AT THE HOTEL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL AND TOLD MY FRIEND WHAT HAPPENED, HE CAME TO MY CAR TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE. I DROVE MY CAR TO B&S HACIENDA AUTO BODY ON OLD SANTA RITA ROAD AND LEFT MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. ON THURSDAY, DEC 17, I DROVE ON I 680S AND SAW A MANGLED SHOVEL WITH A GREEN HANDLE ON THE SHOULDER AS I WAS APPROACHING THE ALCOSTA BLVD EXIT. CAL TRANS WAS DOING WORK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BEYOND THE ALCOSTA BLVD EXIT THE NIGHT I HIT THE ITEM IN THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THE SHOVEL I HIT WAS LEFT IN THE ROAD BY A CAL TRANS WORK CREW. I HAVE OVER $6,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR AS A RESULT OF HITTING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A SHOVEL THAT WAS LEFT IN THE ROAD.