As many as 10 vehicles were disabled on Interstate 8 near Dunbar Lane early Saturday when drivers ran over a chunk of concrete put into freeway lanes in what may be part of string of deliberate acts, the California Highway Patrol said.

No one has reported seeing the culprit who sabotaged the freeway several times with concrete blocks and long, 60-pound concrete “parking stops” normally placed across the end of parking lot stalls.

From January to Feb. 7, the CHP received four reports of retaining wall blocks lying in westbound freeway lanes east of Dunbar Lane in the Harbison Canyon area of East County, CHP Officer Travis Garrow said.

The blocks cause several crashes, leaving cars with moderate to major damage.


The incidents occurred between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on various nights of the week, Garrow said.

The CHP at that time asked for the public’s help in finding whoever was responsible for the destructive acts, which then stopped.

But on Saturday, several drivers reported hitting debris in the westbound lanes, again just east of Dunbar Lane, about 12:25 a.m. Officers found eight to 10 disabled vehicles with bent wheels and flat tires.

They had hit a parking stop in the road, and officers found four more of the objects on the shoulder, along with three cinder blocks, Garrow said.


He said patrols are being stepped up in the area, but investigators have no suspect information. The CHP asked that anyone who has seen anything suspicious call the El Cajon office at (619) 401-2000.


pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard