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CNN Live Event/Special

Newlywed Injured By Granite Boulder Thrown Onto Her Car

Aired June 16, 2003 - 19:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES.
A 30-year-old newlywed is fighting for her life tonight as she has ever moment from the trip home from her honeymoon turned into a nightmare. She and her new husband were returning from Florida. While they were driving through Virginia, about a week ago, a massive chunk of granite smashed through the windshield of their car. David Statter of Washington station WUSA has the story of her fight for life and her family's fight for answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN GIPSON, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: Honestly I was so in shock. I didn't realize what happened until the officer told me it was a rock that was thrown. I didn't see the rock because it...

DAVID STATTER, WUSA CORRESPONDENT: It was little rally a case of not knowing what hit them. What Brian Gibson did know was that Daphne his wife of just one week was in bad shape.

GIPSON: Gone maybe a couple more yards before I realized that she wasn't responding to me. And I pulled over and I called 911.

STATTER: The 70 pound peace of granite came from the Guinea Station Road overpass on I95 north of Thornburg. In an effort to find out who tossed the boulder, Virginia state police are working with area schools and looking for motorists who may have seen something suspicious very late Saturday night. Police, doctors and Daphne Gibson's family are worried that this could turn into a case of murder.

DR. SEAN BENDIT, TRAUMA SURGEON: She has bruising on her brain. Her face essentially was split down the middle opened with almost all of the bones in her face broken, a lot of her organs are failing. She's already shown us a sign that her lungs are beginning to fail and she's on maximum ventilation support currently. Her heart is beginning to fail.

GIPSON: I talk to her and let her know I'm there for her and I give her all my love and support and I'm always in there holding her hand, and just praying for her, you know?

WANDA DUDLEY, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I just would like to say to the person that has destroyed my daughter's life, she's right now fighting for hers. And I wish that you would come and report to the authorities whoever you are.

GIPSON: I don't know what idea of fun they thought it was to throw a rock off an overpass like that. That's just -- that's just ruined my wife's life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES.

A 30-year-old newlywed is fighting for her life tonight as she has ever moment from the trip home from her honeymoon turned into a nightmare. She and her new husband were returning from Florida. While they were driving through Virginia, about a week ago, a massive chunk of granite smashed through the windshield of their car. >


Aired June 16, 2003 - 19:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES.
A 30-year-old newlywed is fighting for her life tonight as she has ever moment from the trip home from her honeymoon turned into a nightmare. She and her new husband were returning from Florida. While they were driving through Virginia, about a week ago, a massive chunk of granite smashed through the windshield of their car. David Statter of Washington station WUSA has the story of her fight for life and her family's fight for answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN GIPSON, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: Honestly I was so in shock. I didn't realize what happened until the officer told me it was a rock that was thrown. I didn't see the rock because it...

DAVID STATTER, WUSA CORRESPONDENT: It was little rally a case of not knowing what hit them. What Brian Gibson did know was that Daphne his wife of just one week was in bad shape.

GIPSON: Gone maybe a couple more yards before I realized that she wasn't responding to me. And I pulled over and I called 911.

STATTER: The 70 pound peace of granite came from the Guinea Station Road overpass on I95 north of Thornburg. In an effort to find out who tossed the boulder, Virginia state police are working with area schools and looking for motorists who may have seen something suspicious very late Saturday night. Police, doctors and Daphne Gibson's family are worried that this could turn into a case of murder.

DR. SEAN BENDIT, TRAUMA SURGEON: She has bruising on her brain. Her face essentially was split down the middle opened with almost all of the bones in her face broken, a lot of her organs are failing. She's already shown us a sign that her lungs are beginning to fail and she's on maximum ventilation support currently. Her heart is beginning to fail.

GIPSON: I talk to her and let her know I'm there for her and I give her all my love and support and I'm always in there holding her hand, and just praying for her, you know?

WANDA DUDLEY, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I just would like to say to the person that has destroyed my daughter's life, she's right now fighting for hers. And I wish that you would come and report to the authorities whoever you are.

GIPSON: I don't know what idea of fun they thought it was to throw a rock off an overpass like that. That's just -- that's just ruined my wife's life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES.

A 30-year-old newlywed is fighting for her life tonight as she has ever moment from the trip home from her honeymoon turned into a nightmare. She and her new husband were returning from Florida. While they were driving through Virginia, about a week ago, a massive chunk of granite smashed through the windshield of their car. >