Falling concrete smashes car windshield under Gardiner Expressway

A Markham woman says shes afraid to drive after large piece of concrete fell from the Gardiner Expressway and smashed into her windshield.

If Im just walking, maybe Im not here today- HumaSiddiqi

Huma Siddiqi was about to get on the Gardiner Expressway from Lower Spadina Ave. earlier this week when a 30-centimetre chunk of concrete slammed into the windshield of her car. Her son, Ali Siddiqi, was in a vehicle behind her and watched the whole thing happen.

"The car saved me," said Huma Siddiqi, still visibly shaken up after the incident.

"If Im just walking, maybe Im not here today."

The city of Toronto said its investigating the incident to see if the concrete actually came from the expressway. In some cases, officials said, the debris could be from a vehicle travelling on the expressway rather than the structure itself.

The aging elevated highways integrity has been in the spotlight for years, highlighted by a 2012 report that found crumbling concrete in some parts of the roadway pose a significant safety hazard. The city has since taken a number of steps to maintain the expressway.

"I have to tell you assure you that the Gardiner is structurally sound," said Coun. Jaye Robinson, chair of the citys public works and infrastructure committee.

"Its been a long time since its actually been identified that the actual piece, the material, came from the Gardiner."

Ali Siddiqi said he still believes the concrete, some chunks of which are still lodged in the wiper-area of his mothers car, did come from the highway.

"It was just astounding," he said.

Ali Siddiqi said the repairs to the vehicle will cost an estimated $300.