O'FALLON, MO — Police in O’Fallon say a drone helped officers identify three juveniles who were throwing candy from an Interstate 70 overpass, turning what may have looked like a prank into a safety scare for drivers below.

Authorities said the incident began after a driver called 911 and reported that something had struck her windshield while she was traveling on I-70 beneath the Sonderen Street overpass. She told dispatchers she was not sure what had fallen onto the roadway.

While officers were responding, the department’s drone located three juveniles riding bicycles on the overpass. Police say drone video appears to show one of them throwing an object over the fence and onto the highway.

Driver report led police to the overpass

The first sign of trouble came from a motorist who believed something had hit her windshield at highway speed. That kind of call can be difficult to quickly sort out, especially when the object is not immediately visible or identifiable.

According to police, the woman was driving below the Sonderen Street overpass when the impact occurred. She did not know what had been falling onto the interstate, which is why the call was treated as a potential roadside hazard rather than a simple disturbance.

Officers headed toward the area as the situation unfolded. The response gave police a chance to look above the highway, where the drone later picked up the group on bicycles.

Drone footage shows one juvenile tossing an object onto I-70

Police say the drone provided the key break in the case by spotting three juveniles on the overpass while officers were still on the way. The video released by the department appears to show one of them reaching over the fence and throwing something down toward the interstate.

That kind of evidence allowed officers to move quickly and stop the group. Police say all three admitted they had been throwing candy off the overpass.

Authorities did not say what type of candy was involved, and they did not report any damage to vehicles. Even so, investigators treated the act as a serious traffic safety concern because it took place directly above a busy highway.

Officers released the juveniles to their parents

After officers stopped the group, police say the three juveniles were released to their parents. The department did not say whether charges are being considered, and it did not provide the ages of the juveniles involved.

That leaves several questions unanswered, including whether the case will lead to any further action. For now, police are focused on the broader warning they say the incident should send to anyone tempted to imitate the stunt.

Even without any reported vehicle damage, the department said the conduct had the potential to put drivers in real danger. The response suggests police viewed the situation as more than a harmless neighborhood prank.

Police say even small objects can trigger serious crashes

In a social media post, O’Fallon police stressed that throwing anything from an overpass into traffic can have consequences far beyond the size of the object itself. Officers said even candy can distract a driver or block a view for a split second.

That brief interruption can be enough to trigger a sudden reaction at highway speeds, police warned. A startled driver may brake hard, swerve, or lose control, creating a danger not only for the person behind the wheel but for everyone nearby.

Police described the behavior as potentially life-altering for innocent motorists. Their message was clear: what may seem minor from above can become a serious threat once it reaches the roadway below.

Drone technology gives officers a faster way to respond

The department’s use of a drone highlights how police are increasingly using aerial tools to respond to incidents that unfold across roads, overpasses, and other hard-to-monitor spaces. In this case, the technology appears to have helped officers quickly identify the people involved.

Because the juveniles were on bicycles and above the interstate, a ground-level response alone could have taken longer to sort out. The drone gave officers a clearer view of what was happening on the overpass while the call was still active.

Police did not say whether the drone was being used routinely or as part of a targeted response, but the video became central to the investigation. The department used it to support its warning that objects dropped from overpasses can create real dangers for highway traffic.