MYNORTHWEST NEWS

State troopers trying to find rock thrower along I-90

Jun 4, 2021, 3:31 PM | Updated: 3:33 pm

I-90 rock thrower...

I-90 at 18th, near where someone was spotted tossing rocks onto cars below. (WSDOT)

(WSDOT)

The Washington State Patrol is trying to track down a person spotted throwing rocks onto I-90 early Friday morning.

Rocks thrown onto I-90 injure two people, damage cars

Washington State Department of Transportation cameras showed the person throwing rocks at passing cars from a spot near Rainier Ave. around 5 a.m.

“A couple troopers chased him on foot, but were not able to apprehend him, ” Trooper Rick Johnson told KIRO Radio.

There were no reports of injuries or damage.

Trooper Johnson said state patrol is working with WSDOT to turn the camera to get a better view of the area.

Over the last few weeks, rocks, bikes, scooters, and rebar have been thrown into traffic in the same area.

“The individual that we arrested a couple of weeks ago was in mental distress,” Johnson said. “I can’t say that’s the same thing happening here. That’s the majority of the people we contact. We obviously want to give them help, but we also need the public to be safe driving along the freeway.”

At least two people were injured Tuesday night when someone threw rocks and other debris onto the freeway. A rock went through a car windshield and hit the driver in the shoulder. She was taken to a local hospital.

Hours later, a second car was hit by a rock or other debris that injured a passenger, who declined to be transferred to a hospital.

“We’ve had 46 (similar) calls into the downtown core area,” Johnson said on Thursday.

Throwing objects at cars is a crime ranging from a misdemeanor offense to felony assault if it results in severe injuries.

KIRO 7 reports that someone tossed a rental bicycle from the Denny overpass onto I-5 and into the path of oncoming traffic. The bike hit a man’s car but missed crashing through the windshield. He told KIRO 7 that the bike did $15,000 in damage.

KIRO Radio’s Heather Bosch and the KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this story.

MyNorthwest News

northgate middle school fire...

Jason Sutich

Small fire breaks out in bathroom at Northgate middle school; no injuries reported

A small fire broke out inside Billings Middle School in Northgate on Monday morning.

25 minutes ago

climber Middle Fork Snoqualmie...

MyNorthwest Staff

Climber dies after fall near Middle Fork Snoqualmie trailhead Sunday

A climber is dead after a fall Sunday near the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trailhead. Eastside Fire and Rescue said crews responded around 5 p.m. to reports that a climber had fallen.

1 hour ago

scam grays harbor...

Julie Berg, KIRO 7 News

Scam targets those who recently deposited funds into inmate accounts

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a scam targeting people who recently deposited money into an inmate’s account.

2 hours ago

irvine china seattle detained...

Julie Berg, KIRO 7 News

Irvine woman detained while trying to fly to China, accused of surveilling in Seattle

Federal authorities said they arrested an Irvine, Calif., woman Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to China.

2 hours ago

washington ferries ferguson...

Luke Duecy

Washington State Ferries cancel major sailings amid apparent engineer sick-out

Chaos is gripping Washington State Ferries Monday morning, with major ferry runs canceled and thousands of passengers left stranded amid what appears to be a widespread sick-out by ferry engineers.

2 hours ago

(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Early morning shooting in downtown Tacoma leaves two dead, one injured

Police in Tacoma are investigating the deaths of two men following a shooting in the city's downtown area.

22 hours ago

State troopers trying to find rock thrower along I-90