SAN DIEGO -- The state Route 163 shootings are dredging up painful memories for a Julian man whose life was forever changed by a freeway bullet.

Daniel Deluca said it's hard to watch footage of the recent incident.

"It's scary seeing it, almost like a reoccurrence of what happened to me," said Deluca.

In September 2008, Deluca, then 21 years old, was the passenger in truck driven by a friend. As they traveled on westbound Interstate 8 near the Morena area, a car tried to cut them off and then dropped back.

Suddenly there was an explosion of glass.

"All I heard was a 'whoom whoom' sound in my head, and a lot of blood coming out of my face," said Deluca.

A bullet had shattered the rear passenger window before hitting Deluca. The bullet broke several bones in his face and it lodged behind his eye.

"Every time I clear my nose, I feel something moving," Deluca told 10News in 2008.

The bullet was successfully removed, but more than two years later the pain remains.

"I have sharp pains throughout my face. I've also developed a stuttering issue," said Deluca.

From headaches to blurry vision, the physical impact is likely permanent. Also not fading away are the mental scars.

The shooter was never caught.

"I'm afraid of being around other cars on the freeway," said Deluca.

Deluca said he gets anxious every time he gets in a car. It is an anxiety now heightened because of the SR-163 shootings.

"I fear for my life and the lives of others on the freeway," said Deluca.

He said he knows the questions the USD student who was shot is now asking herself because he dwelled on the same questions.

"How could this happen? Why? Why me?" said Deluca.

Authorities said Deluca was shot with a .45 caliber hollow-point bullet. The suspected shooter was driving a silver or tan Chrysler 300 with tinted windows.

The CHP does not believe Deluca's case is connected to the SR-163 shootings.