Two motorists reported Wednesday that their vehicles' tires were flattened after driving over spikes protruding from a manhole on the city's southeast side.
Several 911 callers reported the spikes sticking out from the manhole at East Golf Links and South Harrison roads, said Officer Brandon Tatum, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
An officer responded to the intersection after the first call at 7:30 a.m. from a passerby who observed vehicles traveling over an object in the roadway and tires becoming damaged, Tatum said.
The officer removed multiple spikes that were jutting out from the manhole, but he did not find victims in the area, said Tatum.
Later in the day, two motorists went to the police department's east side substation and filed reports about their vehicles' damaged tires, Tatum said.
"This could have been an extremely dangerous situation because a vehicle traveling in excess of 30 to 40 mph running over a spike could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle," Tatum said. A collision also could have been caused by a motorist trying to avoid the spikes, he said.
The hazard was removed quickly, said Tatum. He said it appears to be an isolated situation.
No such incidents were reported on roadways in the county, said Deputy Tom Peine, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity or spots spikes on the roadways can call 911.
