TWO injured when jar of acid hits car

NEWCASTLE, Okla. (AP) _ A jar filled with an acid-like substance crashed through the windshield of a car on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike Tuesday, injuring two people. <br><br>Cynphia Broaddus, 52, and Jim

Tuesday, June 5th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEWCASTLE, Okla. (AP) _ A jar filled with an acid-like substance crashed through the windshield of a car on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike Tuesday, injuring two people.

Cynphia Broaddus, 52, and Jim Maxwell, 63, both of Duncan, were in fair condition at Baptist Medical Center. Broaddus suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face and torso; Maxwell had first- and second-degree burns to his face and right arm.

``That's the one thing they're asking, why would somebody do this? Why them?'' Maxwell's daughter, Laura Wiseman, said at a news conference at the hospital. ``They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.''

The pair, who have dated about seven years, were headed to Will Rogers World Airport at about 3:45 a.m. for a trip to San Diego.

``My mom said they were driving along the interstate,'' said Angela Villalon, Broaddus' daughter. ``The next thing she knew, she heard an explosion. She grabbed her face just from the pain and screamed really loud and heard Jim scream, too.

``He did keep a level head about him and drove to the next exit and got my mom to safety.''

She said her mother was put in the shower at a truck stop and hosed off before help arrived.

The item shattered the windshield, and the liquid burned through the couple's clothing. The daughters said doctors expect close to a full recovery and the couple may be out in two to three weeks.

Police have not been able to find a suspect or determine a motive. Liquid from the jar will be sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to be tested and identified.

Those results likely won't be available until Friday because the machine used to test for acid is being repaired, said OSBI spokeswoman Kym Koch.

Koch said authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the OSBI at 1-800-522-8017 or the Newcastle Police Crimestoppers at 405-527-0423.