'I should have hit her harder': Elderly man charged in road rage incident

BY Brandi Kruse  on January 29, 2013 @ 4:58 pm (Updated: 5:24 pm - 1/29/13 )

An elderly man has been charged in a violent road rage attack on a woman in Tacoma.

William Zesbaugh, 71, is being held on $10,000 bail for second-degree assault and malicious harassment. According to prosecutors, Zesbaugh became upset when a female driver cut him off in traffic around noon on Monday.

"He pulled behind the victim's vehicle, following closely and honking his horn," the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. "The victim stopped at a sign and the defendant's car collided into the back of her vehicle."

When the victim approached Zesbaugh's vehicle to ask for his insurance information, prosecutors say he retrieved a club-like steering wheel lock from his trunk and struck her twice in the arm as she tried to block the assault.

"The defendant told the victim and her passenger, 'I can tell you're lesbians. I should beat the crap out of you,'" according to prosecutors. "He then fled the scene, stating, 'I'm gonna get you for this' as he passed the victim's vehicle."

Police apprehended Zesbaugh a short distance away, where he allegedly told officers, "I should have hit her a lot harder if I'm going to get in trouble for it."

The victim was treated at a nearby hospital for several deep lacerations to her forearm.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (41)


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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    welcome to
    January 30, 2013 1:58 pm
    the billy club?
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    soo purletiv
    January 30, 2013 2:59 pm
    Well you'd think that!

    It's not a problem on multi lane highways. I am only in the passing lane to pass and that is not very often. It's the back country roads that seem to be the problem. Pull out onto the road and someone doesn't bother to slow down at all and they ride up on your rear and then throw their hands up in the air and give you that stupid look!

    Would it hurt that person to simply let up on the gas or even tap on the brake? I guess so!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ It's me! Ha ha!
    January 30, 2013 7:37 pm
    I would counter with a better argument!

    Would it hurt for you to wait an extra few seconds or so and let the guy who is already on the main road and driving at an established speed pass, before you enter the road and expect him/her to adjust to your impatience?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }