Puyallup- A 31-year-old Puyallup man driving a minivan was chasing a Honda Civic south on Meridian Avenue last night. Both cars were speeding down the heavily-traveled thoroughfare from 128th Street East. Witnesses told troopers that the minivan was riding the Civic’s tail.
Apparently the incident began on state Route 161 near 168th Street East with one car chasing another then transferred to side streets. “The vehicles were driving reckless and not slowing for intersections,” a State Patrol news release states.
Both the minivan and the Civic ran the red stop light at 168th Street East. In doing that the Civic slammed into a Toyota Scion, seriously injuring the 29-year-old driver. The Civic then careened off of the Scion and rammed into a Chevrolet Impala that had been going north on Meridian, troopers reported.
The cars were strewn across the intersection.
Witnesses told state troopers that the driver of the minivan then pulled up to the Civic, jumped out of his vehicle, began a heated argument with the driver of the Civic, kicking the car and having an over-all tantrum. The Puyallup man then left in the minivan.
The driver and passenger of the Civic were transported to Tacoma General Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Scion was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, troopers reported. The driver of the Impala was not injured.
Investigators at the scene said that they found a bullet hole in the trunk of the wrecked Civic.
Investigators found the Puyallup man at a South Hill home a short time later. The minivan was there and had front-end damage. The Puyallup man was arrested and booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of three counts of attempted murder, three counts of vehicular assault, and domestic violence.
Though the news tries to label this as a case of road rage that spun out of control, upon closer examination, the gentleman charged with the crimes had most definitely snapped. Road rage is one thing, shooting at someone is a whole different category.
If you or a loved one are a victim of road rage and have sustained physical and mental injuries from the actions of another driver it is important that you retain legal council. Call Phillips Webster to explore your legal options.
