News

Actions

Woman's commute to work disrupted by a frightening encounter with snake

Posted
and last updated

A Land O' Lakes woman said she panicked when she discovered an unwelcome guest during a drive to work.

Jessica Byrd Matkin told Action News she got stuck in traffic on McMullen Booth Road in Pinellas County when a snake started slithering up from the hood of her car onto her windshield.

"I wasn't sure if he could somehow get into the car," Matkin said. "I turned off the air conditioning, closed the vents and rolled up all the widows, thinking at any time he will come though the vents or a hole somewhere."

Because traffic was stop and go, she even put the car in park every time she stopped so she wouldn't accidentally hit the motorcycle in front of her as a panicked reaction.

After about 40 minutes of terrorizing Matkin, the snake made its way up the windshield.  

Acting on advice from her husband, Matkin flipped on the windshield wipers and sent the serpent flying.

"I still check out the hood area every day now," she said.

She estimated the snake to be about four feet long.