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A community is rallying around a truck driver who was injured Tuesday after a plastic cup that was thrown from an oncoming car shattered his windshield. It happened on U.S. 271 near Bogota, TX.

Jennifer Bolduc told Land Line that her husband, Richard Bolduc, was released from the hospital on Wednesday, but is still unable to drive after sustaining eye, face and back injuries. She said it’s still unclear what was in the cup that shattered his windshield.

She said that Richard has also met with an eye specialist, who removed pieces of glass from his eyes.

The Bolducs live in Saint Peters, MO, which is more than 600 miles from where Richard was injured. However, Jennifer said she has many new friends to thank in the community of Bogota, TX, who have supported her husband since the accident.

Richard is staying with Donnie Childers and his wife, Dana, owners of the feed store in Bogota. “Pastor Donnie” as he is called, is also a former truck driver and the pastor of the Full Circle Cowboy Church in Bogota.

The Childers were called to the accident scene by Kate Gibson of Bogota, and her boyfriend, Mitch Cannon, who were behind Richard on U.S. 271 and stopped to help him.

Pastor Donnie, who has a CDL, drove Richard’s truck to his parking lot at the feed store. He then drove nearly three hours to the hospital in Plano, TX, where Richard was flown by helicopter after the accident. He wanted to make sure Richard had his cellphone, wallet and other items out of his truck.

Dana Childers called Jennifer Bolduc to let her know that Richard had been in an accident, but was OK.

Gibson and Cannon, who is also a truck driver, are taking care of the Bolducs’ two Chihuahuas, who were with him in the truck, until he recovers.

“Everybody has been so great to us since this happened,” Jennifer said. “It’s hard for me to help him since the girls, who both have special needs, and I are so far away, but we are grateful for their help.”

The investigation is ongoing into the car and person who may have thrown the cup that shattered Bolduc’s windshield. Pieces of the cup and straw were found throughout his truck.

Richard, who has been an OOIDA member since 2001, was able to pull his truck over and out of traffic before he fell to the ground.

“We still aren’t sure when or if he will be able to drive,” Jennifer said. “We are just so thankful that he is OK, and that I still have a husband and my girls have their daddy.”

By Clarissa Kell-Holland, Land Line Magazine staff writer