The Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) near Center City Philadelphia (Credit: Wikipedia user camartin)
Philadelphia motorists experienced a dangerous and sudden hazard on Tuesday evening when a truck inadvertently dumped a load of nails onto the Schuylkill Expressway near Montgomery Drive.
At around 5 p.m., drivers reported sudden tire blowouts, forcing them to pull over onto the shoulder as lanes were closed to clear the debris and disabled vehicles. Police confirmed that up to 15 cars sustained damage from the scattered nails.
Voices from the scene painted a tense picture.
“I was on 76, so I couldn’t hit my brakes or swerve out of the way,” Roxborough resident Nakoa Salna told 6ABC.
Safer options were limited, and with tire pressure dropping fast, many drivers found themselves stranded on the highway.
Replica AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell told the TV station that their service trucks were kept busy changing “tire after tire after tire,” underscoring the scale of the disruption.
Experts say the incident should serve as a wake-up call: many newer car models omit spare tires to save weight and cost.
Tidwell advised that, in their absence, drivers should consider equipping themselves with emergency tire plugs or portable air compressors.
Local social media has long cataloged a steady stream of flat tires in Philadelphia, particularly linked to street-side debris — reinforcing that vigilant preparedness against common urban hazards such as this is more necessary than ever.
