Dozens of drivers in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, California, experienced tire damage and flat tires after hundreds of screws were found scattered across a highway overpass. The incident, which occurred Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, prompted numerous reports to the city's police department.
One driver, Justice Rose, told KCRA that she found 27 screws in her tires, requiring the replacement of two tires. A local tire shop reported a significant increase in repairs, handling approximately 60 flat-tire incidents in one day, compared to an average of 20 to 30.
David Irons, a local resident, later took it upon himself to clear the screws from the roadway. Irons reported using a magnet to collect hundreds of screws multiple times from the Highway 99 overpass area. The city's Public Works department inspected the overpass but found no evidence, although screws were observed in the vicinity by KCRA reporters.
It remains unclear how the screws ended up on the road. The California Department of Transportation, responsible for maintaining the Highway 99 overpass, stated that affected drivers can file a claim for reimbursement. The department advises drivers to provide as much information as possible, including photos, receipts, and the exact location and time of the incident, when filing a claim.