close
close

“We don’t feel safe”: Another driver was hit by a rock thrower on I-90

Once again, motorists were hit by a rock thrower near Interstate 90 (I-90) and Rainier Avenue.

Luis Leon told KIRO Newsradio that he was driving his Hyundai Tuscon to a soccer game when he exited the highway at Rainier Avenue and then noticed what he thought was snow falling in front of his car.

“I just saw something white fall from the sky,” he said.

However, the Washington State Patrol said it was a rock that a suspect had thrown at motorists on the bike path above.

“And then my car immediately started doing strange things,” Leon added.

He drove a little way before he realized he had driven over a rock—a big one.

“It must have been the size of a small or medium-sized dog,” he said. “As I drove past the rock, I saw a car on the right side with its window completely smashed. The back of his car was completely smashed.”

Then he realized that someone had deliberately tried to hit him with the stone.

Leon said he was thankful that no one was hurt. For his own safety, he was grateful that he had already slowed down before the rock was thrown. Otherwise, he said, he would have flown through his panoramic sunroof.

“If the rock had fallen on the roof of my car, I don't know what would have happened to me,” he said. “I have no idea, and I don't want to find out, and I hope we never find out.”

Greg Wallen lives in the area and saw the police operation.

“Both over Rainier Avenue and over the ramp – they're both pretty high up, so there are big forces there,” he said.

But Leon was not completely spared. He said the underside of his car was badly damaged.

“My car was leaking fluid, the underside of the car was destroyed and I didn't feel safe driving,” he said.

Damage under a victim's car when it drove over a large rock thrown from above onto I-90. (Photo: Luis Leon)

His Hyundai was towed from the scene of the accident to his home and then from his home to the shop. At the time of publication, he said he was waiting for an estimate for repairs.

“The damage to my car is the least important thing right now,” he said.

Leon fears that if nothing is done, someone will get hit and be seriously injured or killed.

“It doesn't make sense to me,” he said. “I was just on my way to a soccer game, right? And that was it. To me, it's very dangerous. It's not just someone doing graffiti or vandalism. I'm surprised no one was hurt. I'm really surprised. We were very lucky.”

Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Rick Johnson said the rock was thrown at Leon's Hyundai around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday night. It's the same area where at least four other drivers have been hit since June.

“A 911 caller reported someone on a bicycle throwing rocks in a bike lane near Rainier Avenue and I-90 southbound,” Johnson said.

President of the Seattle City Council: Rest areas are “better than nothing”

Johnson said WSP, along with Seattle police, responded to the area but were unable to locate any suspects.

Two cars on the ramp to 90 eastbound were struck, but neither driver was injured.

The stone-throwing incident in September on I-90 was not the first

However, this is not the first time that drivers have come close to being hit by rocks at the exits of Rainier Avenue.

“You're driving and it definitely scares you,” Frank Reyes, whose car has been hit by a rock in previous incidents, told KIRO Newsradio. “Man, somebody could get hurt.”

On July 9, around 5 a.m., three drivers were hit by bricks on I-90.

Throwing stones

Area where stone throwing occurred. (Google Maps)

In June, a couple had a rock thrown through their windshield as they exited the highway.

“It's a cause for concern,” Reyes said. “There's a lot of traffic and people have enough to worry about without thinking about being hit by rocks.”

The police do not establish any connection between the incidents.

Past incidents: Suspect throwing bricks on I-90 may be the same man who threw rocks at motorists in June

“There is a certain sense of lawlessness,” Reyes said. “These are the times we live in.”

At the time of publication, no arrests have been reported in any of the three stone-throwing incidents. Leon expressed frustration at what he saw as the police's indifferent attitude.

“I don't understand why this isn't a priority,” he said. “For me, it's a case of someone with a weapon – a big rock like that is a weapon – can do a lot of damage.”

Neighbors are concerned and said they don't want to wait for a deadly surprise before calling police.

“That's what worries me and my family,” Leon said. “We don't feel safe outside, and now we don't feel safe driving either.”

Contributors: Bill Kaczaraba and Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

Sam Campbell is a reporter, editor and anchor at KIRO Newsradio. Read more of Sam's stories here. Follow Sam on Xor send him an email here.

You may also like...