Valhalla Man Survives After Slab Of Ice Crashes Through Windshield On Tappan Zee Bridge

VALHALLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Westchester County driver had a close call with some dangerous ice.

It started as a routine trip Rockland-bound, said 23-year-old Frank Kopicki, of Valhalla.

"I was driving on the left lane of the Tappan Zee Bridge. An 18-wheeler was in front of me in the center lane," he said.

Listen to Valhalla Man Survives After Slab Of Ice Crashes Through Windshield On Tappan Zee Bridge

But glancing up at the roof of the big rig, Kopicki saw a sign of trouble, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.

"I started seeing little pieces of ice come off," he recalled.

And in an instant, Kopicki said a foot-long slab of ice went flying and smashed through his windshield.

"I'm assuming that the ice hit the glass; the glass then hit my forehead," he said.

Despite blood gushing from his head, Kopicki was able to stop without causing a major wreck. He was taken to Nyack Hospital in Nyack, where he said he needed up to 22 stitches.

"The cut is deep; it's like 2 inches long about a half inch wide, at least," he said.

But he's thankful it wasn't worse and no one else got hurt.