Pedestrian Arrested Tossing Hundreds of Nails on Tacoma SR16

Westbound State Route 16 in Tacoma was temporarily closed early Sunday morning after a pedestrian allegedly threw hundreds of nails across multiple lanes near South Union Avenue. The Washington State Patrol and Department of Transportation crews responded, using a sweeper truck and manual efforts to clear the road, which caused significant traffic disruption. Authorities confirmed no flat tires were reported from the nails, and it was unlikely any reached South Union Avenue since the suspect did not throw them from an overpass. The pedestrian was arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief. Trooper John Dattilo and WSDOT officials communicated updates via social media, emphasizing the cleanup would take some time before reopening the lanes and off-ramp affected. This incident highlights the dangers and challenges posed by malicious acts on busy roadways.