Police Investigating Reports Of Rocks Thrown At Cars In Tacoma

Local law enforcement authorities were investigating at least eight rock-throwing incidents Wednesday night and Thursday in Pierce County.

William Bamba said he was on his way to work when his car was hit by a rock he believes was thrown from the 84th street overpass.

A shaken Bamba told KIRO 7 if the rock had landed an inch over it would have come straight through the windshield and hit him in the head.

The Washington State Patrol responded to five incidents Wednesday night when rocks were thrown from the 72nd and 84th street overpasses onto cars on Interstate 5 in Tacoma, trooper Brandy Kessler said. Another incident occurred about 8 a.m. Thursday.

Meanwhile, Lakewood police were investigating three rock-throwing incidents that happened within 10 to 15 minutes of each other starting at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, Lt. Chris Lawler said. Investigators suspect the rocks were thrown from moving vehicles.

The cars and a cab were struck in the 8200 block of Tacoma Mall Boulevard, on South 84th Street near South Tacoma Way and near Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest and Lakewood Drive Southwest, Lawler said.

The driver whose cab was hit told KIRO 7 reporter Richard Thompson he was traveling at about 40 mph southbound on Tacoma Mall Boulevard when someone from an oncoming vehicle threw a rock at his cab. The rock smashed through the cab’s windshield and passed directly through the rear window.

No one was hurt and no suspect information was available in the Lakewood incidents.

The State Patrol has logged 25 incidents of over the past two months in Pierce County, Kessler said. Most have occurred in the late evening or early morning. There have been no reports of serious injuries or arrests in connection with the incidents.

People caught throwing rocks can be charged with a felony if the rocks cause damage to a vehicle.

“Even one small rock thrown at a vehicle can alarm a driver, causing them to swerve and result in a multi-vehicle crash with serious injuries or even death,” Kessler said.