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Woman Shot While Driving On I-25, Other Incidents Could Be Related

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - Authorities in northern Colorado are looking for leads after a 20-year-old woman says she was shot in the neck while she drove on Interstate 25, and authorities are investigating to see if it's related to three similar incidents.

The incident occurred Wednesday at approximately 11:15 p.m.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office says the woman from Milliken was driving on the highway south of Fort Collins between East Harmony Road and Highway 392 Wednesday night when her windshield shattered and she realized she had been shot.

She was able to pull over safely and call for help. Deputies have no idea who shot her or why.

I25 SHOOTING MAP
(credit: CBS)

The woman was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery.

"At this point, there are initial descriptions of the suspect vehicle in last night's shooting possibly being a dark colored SUV type vehicle, but we are not ruling out any other types or styles of vehicles. We do not have a description of any occupants of that vehicle," Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said in a Facebook post.

Smith confirmed a firearm was used. He said there are no indications the shooting was the result of road rage and it appears to be random.

"The victim was struck in the throat and was very lucky in that she sustained no damage to arteries or veins and her airway was not compromised," Smith said.

The shooting came a day after a sheriff's van transporting prisoners was hit by some kind of projectile on I-25, shattering a passenger window.

The two incidents on Colorado's main north-south highway happened about 20 miles apart. Moore says it's too soon to say whether they could be related.

CBS4 also learned of another incident in Weld County on Thursday. A window was shattered in a Johnstown man's vehicle while he was driving on I-76 near Weld County Road 49. There's a hole in the window. The man wasn't hurt and it's unknown whether hole was from rock or bullet.

"When deputies arrived on scene, the 46-year-old Johnstown man advised that his window may have been shot out," Sean Standridge with the Weld County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The Weld County Sheriff's Office is working with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office and the Northern Colorado Crime Lab to see if it's related to the other incidents.

A fourth incident occurred Thursday in Loveland late Wednesday night. Police say a 21-year-old Greeley man was driving east on East Eisenhower Boulevard near North Cleveland Avenue and his rear window shot out.

"When his car went through the intersection he heard a 'pop' and his rear window was shattered but still in the window frame," police said in a statement.

The man wasn't injured.

The Loveland Police Department is also working with the other agencies to see if the incident is related.

suspicious incidents map
(credit: CBS)

Additional Information From The Larimer County Sheriff's Office

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any crime is asked to call Larimer County Sheriff's Office at 970-416-1985 or Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 where you will remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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