Caltrops, including these, have been found over several months along I-20 between U.S. Highway 69 in Smith County to Farm-to-Market Road 314 in Van Zandt County.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in finding people who have been leaving devices used to flatten tires on parts of Interstate 20.

On Wednesday, Smith County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Sgt. Larry Christian said caltrops, which are made of welded rebar and sharpened on each side, have been found on I-20 between US Highway 69 in Smith County to Farm-to-Market Road 314 in Van Zandt County.

During a news conference at the Texas Department of Transportation office in Tyler, Kathi White, TxDOT Tyler District public information officer, said more than 300 caltrops have been found along the 12-mile stretch on I-20 between US-69 and FM 314.

A TxDOT contractor for I-20 began finding the caltrops several months ago, she said. TxDOT officials were then notified, who then told the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement.

Caltrops are found when crews are out cleaning the roadways. Workers have found up to 25 at one time on I-20, White said.

The devices are about three inches in size and are considered a dangerous road hazard, Christian said.

“So anyway you throw these devices on the roadway, it’s going to be having a spike end up. The danger of these spikes is that if somebody hits them their tire will blow out,” he said. “The biggest concern is them having a major accident out on the highway and possibly being injured or even killed.”

White said the devices are being found, not just in the shoulders but in the driving lanes as well. She encouraged people to use caution while driving.

“They’re continuously being found. We have no idea who’s doing it, why they’re doing it, where they’re doing it, and that’s why we’ve turned this over to law enforcement,” White said.

White and Christian both said they have not been informed of any crashes caused by caltrops.

He said building caltrops requires rebar and specialized equipment. He hopes someone will notify the sheriff’s office if they see a person with those materials in their possession.

If a crash does occur, it will be reported to DPS and troopers will conduct an investigation. If caltrops are discovered to be the reason for the wreck, the sheriff’s office will investigate the incident as a criminal matter, Christian said.

Caltrops and other tire flattening devices are illegal weapons under the Texas Penal Code. A person is charged with a state jail felony if they intentionally or knowingly possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell a tire deflation device.

When a person gets their tire blown out, Christian said they should pull over if they’re able to do so. If they believe a caltrop was involved, they should notify law enforcement.

Anyone with information about these devices should contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600 or their local law enforcement agency.

TxDOT crews are sweeping the I-20 for caltrops and other debris daily. White said. TXDOT is also keeping weekly reports of caltrops to help law enforcement.

“Safety is TxDOT’s number one priority … and that’s why we have brought this to law enforcement because they’re the ones who can investigate it and do whatever it takes to figure it out,” White said.