NEWELL BOROUGH, Pa. -- A man accused of throwing a rock that smashed through the windshield of a vehicle and struck the woman driving it claims he threw the rock out of anger and didn't know he hit anyone.

The rock-throwing incident happened while Debra Combs, 55, was driving in Newell Borough on Tuesday.

Police said George Stephens, who was arrested on Thursday, threw the rock out of anger after having an argument with his girlfriend on a cell phone. They said he knew he hit the car and ran from the scene. However, they believe he did not know the rock went through the car's window, striking Combs in the face.

"He actually ran out of his shoes, he was moving so fast. We actually recovered shoes," said Chief John Hartman of the Southwest Regional Police Department.

"He's very sorry for what he did," said Stephens' uncle, William Kennedy. "He didn't know that he did it. He turned himself in and all that."

But police said Stephens only turned himself in after police got a tip from a witness.

Combs said a rock came flying through her windshield as she was driving along Third Street near Long Street.

"Clearly, it's problematic any way you look at it," said Hartman. "And you can see the victim, and you know the damage that was done."

Combs suffered injuries to the top of her head and above her right eye and was taken to Mon Valley Hospital for treatment.

"At first, it was very scary, but I'm thankful that I can see," said Combs. "I don't think he did it intentionally, from what I understand. If he was having an argument with his girlfriend, I could understand how that can happen."