Thousands of screws on Osceola County road create costly mess for drivers

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of Osceola County drivers are out hundreds of dollars because of what may have been thousands of screws dumped in the road.

It happened Thursday afternoon on Canoe Creek Road between Keystone Point Drive and Vellagio Boulevard.

Many drivers who used those roads had flat tires on Friday.

They said they had no idea they ran over screws.

“There’s seven in here that I counted,” said driver Hayli Boylan.

Boylan said her drive down Canoe Creek Road turned costly when she came home to find her tires damaged.

It cost here more than $112 and she had to miss a day of work, but that’s not much compared to dozens of other drivers who brought their cars to Action Gator Tires for repair or replacement.

“I’m expecting $500 or more,” said driver Paul Barden, who had to pay for a tow and new tires.

Barden and Boylan said they’re grateful they noticed the problem before driving a long distance and risking a blowout.

“I work in Orlando and I drive all the way down the 417. Had I now known, it could have been really bad,” Boylan said.

St. Cloud police received several calls at about 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

Police said no one has reported seeing the screws dumped in the road and Osceola County, which maintains it, had no idea how the screws for there.

“They said I was about the 20th person that called in with the same problem and had multiple flat tires,” Barden said.

The county hasn't said for sure if anyone will reimburse the drivers, but said if drivers file a claim through their insurance, the insurer could ask for reimbursement, is they find out who caused the dangerous drive.

Police closed the section of the road for about three hours for cleanup.

Cox Media Group