It was a nightmare scenario for a Mesa couple driving home on the Superstition Freeway on Sunday. They were just passing the Greenfield exit when their tire blew out.
"I was shaking a little bit, but just wondering what caused it. And I was just really glad we didn't lose control of the car,” said Brandy, who didn’t want to reveal her last name.
Brandy was surrounded by cars at the time, so she pulled over as quickly as she could.
A quick inspection of the right rear tire revealed a huge gash. Brandy said she wasn’t alone for her traffic troubles.
"And we just noticed about 15 cars also pulled over with flat tires,” Brandy said.
The Arizona Department of Transportation said engineers were called out to investigate a bridge expansion joint after reports of several damaged tires.
Brandy thinks a piece of steel popped up out of the joint and ruined her tire and several others’ as they drove over it.
"There was a lady that pulled up behind us on the left side, and she was pretty upset because she had just got new tires and she didn't have enough money to get new tires,” Brandy said.
ADOT said anyone who thinks infrastructure damaged their vehicle or flattened a tire can file a claim directly with the agency through ADOT’s website and select the “contact” link.
ADOT said it investigates the incidents and could end up paying for replacement tires or other damage.
