Washington State Patrol troopers arrested two teenagers Saturday night after they scaled the suspension cables of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, reaching the summit of one of the 510-foot towers.
The height of the towers and the sheer verticality of the suspension cables presented immediate logistical hurdles for the responding officers, who had to ensure the safety of the teens while also managing a growing perimeter at the base of the bridge.
The decision to shut down all westbound traffic was made as a precautionary measure to prevent a secondary accident should a fall occur.
Obstruction Charges and the Suspicion of Evasion The legal consequences for the two teenagers extend beyond simple trespassing.
The bridge has a storied history, most notably the 1940 collapse of the original span, which remains a standard case study in aerodynamics and engineering.
Two teenagers face criminal charges after scaling the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, triggering a two-hour traffic shutdown and high-altitude police chase.