PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Police say what happened on Interstate 64 westbound near the I-264 interchange Sunday night was neither a crime nor an accident, but investigators say it was an incident that left a young woman fighting for her life.

The damage to the windshield of a blue Honda civic only begins to tell the story.

A trailer hitch similar to the one pictured here crashed through a windshield and injured a 29-year-old woman on Interstate 64 Sunday, according to Virginia State Police.

According to police, a trailer hitch apparently became dislodged from a white Ford pickup, and the projectile, similar to the one pictured at left, crashed through the windshield and struck a 29-year old woman in the face. The injuries suffered by the woman, according to AAA, were 100% preventable.

“If you do have a trailer hitch and you’re not actively towing, the safest thing to do is to remove that hitch,” said Holly Dalby, AAA Tidewater director of public affairs. “So put it in the vehicle in a secured area so that it’s not loose in there, maybe in the other seat’s storage if you have that in the back seat of your pickup, or if you’re not going to be towing for a long time.”

Police are looking at all possible scenarios. For example: did the truck roll over a hitch that was on the highway? AAA says a hitch and other hardware should be handled with care.

“Leave it in your garage, or somewhere like that, so that it’s not loose in your truck to be a projectile in your pickup with you if you’re in a crash,” Dalby said.

On social media, many have offered prayers for the 29-year old victim. State Police are asking the public for any information regarding the pickup truck.

Anyone with any information on the vehicle or the incident is asked to contact the Virginia State Police at 804-750-8788 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.