Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Highway 75 drive 'punctured' by surprise

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By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

Hundreds of 1-inch sheet rock screws apparently accidentally scattered last Thursday on state Highway 75 near the East Fork intersection provided dozens of drivers with an unwanted and unwelcome break in the monotony.

Vehicle tires quickly picked up the screws, causing immediate or delayed punctures.

Steve Porter, an Idaho Transportation Department supervisor, said ITD workers cleaned up some 200 to 300 screws from the roadway after being notified by the Blaine County Sheriff's Department.

At Les Schwab Tire Center in Hailey, a spokesman said more than 25 drivers needed punctures repaired or tires replaced. One tire had been punctured by seven of the screws.

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Up the road at Dean Tire and Automotive near Ketchum, a spokesman said one vehicle had screws in three of its tires. He said his crew dealt with punctures on four cars.

Sheriff's Lt. Curtis Miller said the origin of the screws could not be determined. However, he said they most likely were in a container that accidentally fell from a truck.