Don Lee says he still can't believe he survived. Last Friday, as he was driving south on Interstate 280 in San Jose, a huge metal beam flew off a truck ahead of him and headed straight for his car. He says that's when he felt a surprising sense of calm.
"I think I have a second life," Lee told NBC Bay Area on Tuesday, recounting his ordeal.
Lee says he was driving southbound on I-280, in the middle lane, when he noticed the "big caged-type truck" two cars in front of him.
"I saw the metal beam started flying up in the sky," Lee said, "wobbling like a tornado ... coming down straight to me, and as it got closer to me, it got straight like a rocket homing into the target."
Lee says he didn't want to swerve too quickly for fear of hitting another car. So he moved a little bit sideways and then all of a sudden the beam hit the windshield. The beam hit his BMW so hard it cut the engine.
"I couldn't see anything," Lee said.
At that point, Lee says was able to cautiously pull over to shoulder. The beam had missed him by a hair, leaving only a few scratches on his arm.
"The windshield itself probably absorbed some of the shock," Lee said. "I don't believe myself seeing that. I really don't understand it."
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Lee says he used to build and drive race cars and credits that experience with keeping him calm behind the wheel. He says he never closed his eyes.
Lee says he's convinced, last Friday, God was his co-pilot.
"It's a miracle."
