Bowling ball incident was 'assault'; patrol asks for tips

Table talk, gossip, rumors -- the Minnesota State Patrol is hoping that somebody will hear a piece of information that might lead authorities to the person who dropped a bowling ball off an overpass onto Interstate 90 in southern Minnesota on Sunday.

By Tim Harlow, Star Tribune

Last update: August 28, 2007 - 7:54 PM

The bowling ball smashed through the driver's-side windshield of a semitrailer truck traveling east on I-90 near Fairmont. The driver, Ted Maki, 54, of Missoula, Mont., suffered severe facial injuries.

"We sincerely ask the public to help. If they hear anything, no matter how trivial, to give the State Patrol a call," said Jacalyn Sticha, a public information trooper. "We want to find out who did this."

After the bowling ball hit the truck at 12:12 a.m. Sunday, Maki's rig went through the median, crossed both westbound lanes, plowed through a fence and came to a stop in a cornfield, the State Patrol said.

Maki was taken to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. He was released Monday.

"This type of behavior is not a prank, it's assault, and can be disastrous," Sticha said.

The State Patrol's Mankato district office can be reached at 507-389-1171.

TIM HARLOW

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