An unknown issue on Interstate 64 last weekend caused dozens of flat tires on the passenger side of motorists’ vehicles, according to police.
Since Saturday, over 40 people have reported flat and damaged tires to police after traveling on I-64 eastbound, according to local police departments.
Police believe the damage may have occurred between exits 234 and 242, York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shelley Ward said.
Ward said small holes were found in the vehicles’ tires, but police did not find any nails or screws. The damage was only on the passenger side of vehicles.
Police had stopped receiving reports of flat tires by Wednesday night, Ward said.
Police in other jurisdictions, including Virginia State Police and Kingsmill Police, also received reports of similar incidents, she added.
Kingsmill Police Chief James West said both Kingsmill guests and residents reported flat tires, but there were “less than ten.” Kingsmill officers were unable to find any items stuck in the tires.
After motorists reported the damage Saturday, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Transportation responded to the suspected area of the interstate, but could not find any items in the roadway that would have caused small holes, VDOT spokeswoman Brittany McBride said.
Crews from both VDOT and the contractor doing the interstate expansion searched Saturday, Sunday and Monday for items in the roadway, she said.
“As far as we can tell, it doesn’t appear to be construction-related, and is an isolated incident,” McBride said.
A Virginia State Police spokesperson was not available for comment by the time of this article’s publication.
To report any road hazards to VDOT, call the customer service center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD or visit my.vdot.virginia.gov.
