Woman’s Bay Bridge strip ties up traffic

Treasure Island resident Tony Devencenzi captured this image of a partially naked woman walking on the Bay Bridge during the Wednesday evening commute. Treasure Island resident Tony Devencenzi captured this image of a partially naked woman walking on the Bay Bridge during the Wednesday evening commute. Photo: Courtesy Tony Devencenzi Photo: Courtesy Tony Devencenzi Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Woman’s Bay Bridge strip ties up traffic 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A young woman turned the evening commute into a rather thrilling adventure Wednesday, stripping down to her underwear while strolling down the middle lanes of the Bay Bridge.

The striptease caused quite a backup as California Highway Patrol vehicles flashed lights and cars swerved around trying to avoid the strolling exhibitionist, who was eventually arrested and taken to San Francisco General Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

The garment shedding began shortly after 6 p.m. when several motorists reported seeing a woman wearing blue jeans and a long sweater running onto eastbound Interstate 80 at the Fifth Street on ramp in San Francisco, according to CHP Officer Peter Van Eckhardt.

“She began losing clothing as she walked in the center lane,” Van Eckhardt said. “She definitely had everyone’s attention there. Fortunately she wasn't hit by traffic because she was moving around a lot and cars were whizzing by.”

Patrol officers soon caught up to her and began flashing their lights and running interference, but the freeway flasher ignored them and continued stripping, he said. The woman walked for about 20 minutes until officers managed to corral her at the center anchorage between the two bridge towers.

“At the end, she was either naked or down to just a bra and panties,” Van Eckhardt said. “It ended up slowing down traffic significantly. She was not the happiest person to go for a ride. She was enjoying her walk, I guess.”

Blood pressures and traffic flow returned to normal soon after the 6:25 p.m. arrest, but the woman, whose identification apparently went the way of her clothes, remained unidentified.

“Her clothes are still out on the bridge somewhere or in the bay now,” said Van Eckhardt, explaining how officers put blankets on the woman, who had cooled down by then, as they transported her to the hospital. “It's not summertime anymore.”

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite.