Tacoma traffic halted after pedestrian tosses nails onto SR 16 Sunday morning

Westbound state Route 16 near Union Avenue was closed early Sunday morning after a pedestrian tossed nails onto the freeway, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The incident was first reported just before 8 a.m.

“Troopers and state Department of Transportation crews are on scene attempting to clear a large amount of nails strewn across multiple lanes on WB SR 16 west of Union,” Trooper John Dattilo said via social media. “A sweeper truck is en route, but it will be a while before the road can reopen.”

About 7: 45 a.m., the State Patrol began receiving reports about a man running in the lanes of the freeway, throwing rocks in the area. Troopers arrived and discovered it was not rocks, but nails, Dattilo said.

The number of nails found could have filled a five-gallon bucket, he estimated.

The pedestrian, a 44-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief, he said.

The westbound lanes of SR 16 and a nearby on-ramp reopened to traffic about 10:25 a.m., Datillo said. Since then, there have been no reports of flat tires or other vehicle damage, he said.

This story was originally published August 24, 2025 at 10:52 AM.