There was a case of road rage in Summerside Thursday afternoon after a man chased a vehicle through the city streets and assaulted the driver.
Just before 1 p.m., a 42-year-old Summerside man was arrested for dangerous driving, assault and damage to property related to the incident. It began with the accused pursuing the victim’s vehicle on Duke Street and then cutting him off near Maple Avenue.
The victim, a 20-year-old Summerside man, reported that the accused approached his vehicle and accused him of speeding through the neighbourhood. The accused then punched the victim through the open window.
Cpl. Jason Blacquiere said incidents to this extreme are not common in Summerside.
“These are pretty serious allegations where a vehicle basically was chased, ran off the road and then the driver assaulted. Usually we see somebody giving the finger or somebody yelling something. But this was extreme today for what we normally see.”
“If you can, drive to a safe area or . . . to the nearest police station. If you have hands-free dialling or Bluetooth, certainly call 911 and hopefully police can respond and help deal with the situation.”
-Cpl. Jason Blacquiere
The victim tried to leave the area, near Poplar Avenue, but was followed by the accused and proceeded to Pope Road where an officer came across the two vehicles that appeared to be driving aggressively. The victim reported he was forced off the road and had to drive through the yard of an apartment building to get away.
“The officer stopped one of the cars – the victim’s – and was told what took place. He could see the other vehicle leaving the area so he caught up to that vehicle on Central Street and arrested the driver.”
The accused has been processed and released from police custody. He is to appear in court at a later date to answer to the charges.
The victim received what are believed to be minor injuries as a result of the incident and was treated at the Summerside Police Services offices by Island EMS paramedics.
Blacquiere says if drivers find themselves in these situations to proceed in a safe manner to get away.
“If you can, drive to a safe area or . . . to the nearest police station. If you have hands-free dialling or Bluetooth, certainly call 911 and hopefully police can respond and help deal with the situation.”
Cases like this are also a danger to the public, he added.
“It’s not only dangerous to the people involved. Part of the allegation is that the accused’s vehicle was beside the victim’s vehicle in traffic and then weaved back into the lane when there was oncoming traffic. It endangers pedestrians, other vehicles on the roadway and the people who are driving the vehicles involved.”
