'What just happened?': Truck driver describes moment flying fish shattered his windshield

That's what Barry Poff's instincts told him when a bird dropped a fish out of its mouth on the windshield of his truck.

Poff's had a steady hand on the wheel for 34 years as a truck driver, but when his windshield was shattered by the fish last Wednesday, it was unlike anything he's seen in his 3 million miles on the road. Fortunately, Poff is also a drag racer and has more than enough driving expertise to handle whatever challenges the road presents.

"I was just like 'what the h*** just happened,'" Poff said. "My immediate reaction was to keep the truck straight."

Poff drives for Ward Transport and Logistics, a trucking company with service centers in Charlotte and Durham. His journeys have taken him through all 50 states and parts of Canada. Last week, he was headed down Interstate 73 in Randolph County while crossing over Randleman Lake when the bird flew over the bridge as his truck passed.

Poff said the bird had a decision to make: Lose the fish so it could get higher or collide with a truck going 63 mph.

It chose the former.

As soon as he got off the bridge, Poff got the truck on the side of the road. He was unharmed but in a state of disbelief. His EZ Pass sensor for tolls was also broken.

"I pulled over and called my dispatcher," Poff said. "I told him, 'You ain't gonna believe what just happened. A fish just shattered my windshield.'"

Poff said it all happened around 1:30 p.m. He didn't get to his home in York, S.C., until 10 p.m. A wrecker brought him a new truck.

Poff said he went to look for the fish after pulling over. He estimated it was a 2½- to 3-pound large-mouth bass.

"I was going to have it mounted," he said with a laugh.

Where does it rank on the list of weirdest things he's seen in his three-plus decades as a driver?

"That's definitely No. 1," Poff said.