An Edmonton man is blaming the province for serious damage done to his car over the weekend, when he drove on the Anthony Henday and his vehicle was peppered by blowing gravel and sand.

On Saturday, February 6, there was a wind warning in effect for the Edmonton-area, with wind gusts measured at 91 kilometres per hour.

Kosta Keramaris was driving his brand-new SUV on Anthony Henday Drive that day, and said his car was repeatedly hit with blowing gravel and sand.

Keramaris told CTV News the repair bill is $17,000 – and he blames the province for the damage, saying it hadn’t snowed in weeks, and the gravel should have been cleaned up.

“We haven’t had any snow and whatever snow we have has been melted away,” Keramaris said. “Whatever you can see on the roads now is mounds of rock.”

Aside from the windshield, damage extended mostly to the paint and rims.

Keramaris is going to his insurance company to let them know what happened, and he said he’s filed a claim for the loss with the province.

The Alberta Transportation Department said the claim will be evaluated. A spokesperson told CTV News that spring cleanup only happens when crews are sure there won’t be any more snow, and that usually doesn’t happen until April.

With files from Michel Boyer