Rocks thrown onto I-90 injure two people, damage cars
Jun 2, 2021, 4:07 PM | Updated: Jun 3, 2021, 6:51 am
A rock did extensive damage to this car. (Mercer Island Fire Department)
(Mercer Island Fire Department)
The Washington State Patrol is looking for the person who threw rocks or other debris onto I-90 near downtown Seattle on Tuesday night.
At least two people were injured in what the Washington State Patrol says is becoming a disturbingly familiar crime.
Mercer Island Fire Battalion Chief Stephen Mair says both incidents happened near the Mount Baker Tunnel and Rainier Avenue exits.
Mair says a driver spotted someone tossing objects from the side of the freeway.
“The rock went through the windshield and hit her in the shoulder,” Mair said.
The driver was taken to a local hospital.
Later that evening, a second car was hit by a rock or other debris that injured a passenger, who declined to be transferred to a hospital.
Trooper Rick Johnson said a quick check with his dispatch revealed this was a common crime, recently.
“We’ve had 46 (similar) calls into the downtown core area,” he said.
‘Oh no, another one?’: Seattle driver one of several targeted with objects dropped from I-5 overpass
Johnson said the motive is unclear, but a suspect whom troopers spoke to in April appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis.
Throwing objects at cars is a crime ranging from a misdemeanor offense to felony assault, if it results in severe injuries, Johnson said.
Fortunately, none of the recent injuries have been life threatening.
Jeffrey Johnson wonders if he was just lucky. Last month, he said someone tossed a rental bicycle from the Denny overpass onto I-5 and into his path. He told KIRO 7 TV that the bike did $15,000 damage to his car, but missed crashing into his windshield.
“Those bikes are probably 20 pounds plus,” he said. “It easily could have gone through the windshield, and I don’t know where I’d be right now.”
