BRADFORD.jpg
Scott Bradford, 46, rains in the intensive care unit at Tacoma General Hospital after a brutal road rage attack. (Photo: Facebook)

Who did this? Road rage victim still in intensive care

BY Brandi Kruse  on February 18, 2013 @ 5:18 pm (Updated: 5:32 pm - 2/18/13 )

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A man nearly beaten to death in a brutal road rage incident in Spanaway remains in intensive care, although his condition is slowly improving, according to his son.

Scott Bradford, 46, suffered a broken nose, broken cheek bones and a broken jaw, among other injuries.

His son, Daniel Bradford, says his father has undergone multiple surgeries and is getting better.

"They did surgery on his jaw and they wired his mouth shut," Bradford said Monday, one week after the attack. "The swelling has gone down in his eyes and he's looking a lot better, a lot less swollen. He's still in a lot of pain."

Scott Bradford accidentally pulled out in front of another car at 175th and A Streets around 4 p.m. on February 11. When he pulled over to apologize, the driver of the other vehicle punched and kicked him repeatedly, according to police.

The suspect also beat a disabled Vietnam War veteran who saw the attack and stopped to help. Bradford's family credits the Good Samaritan, Mike Howard, with saving his life.

In an interview with KIRO Radio's Ron and Don Show, Howard compared the man to an animal.

"He's just an extremely violent person who apparently figures he's above the law," he said. "I don't care if you're black, white, yellow, polka dot or indifferent. Think about how you would feel if somebody smashed your mother's face in. I want this guy off the street."

Howard contributed $500 to an award fund for information leading to the suspect's capture.

Daniel Bradford provided new clues in the case Monday after his father penned some notes on a piece of paper at the hospital.

The suspect, a black male in his 20's was wearing thick, dark-rimmed glasses, Bradford said. He may have been driving a gray-colored sedan and had a white female passenger with him during the attack.

Those with information are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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 (9)


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  • wsualumn wrote...
    I Hope
    February 18, 2013 4:55 pm
    Mr. Bradford makes a full recovery and they catch this *astard and lock him up as long as possible.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    I hope they catch this dirt bag soon.
    February 18, 2013 4:59 pm
    He will make it out to be somebodies good girlfriend for five or so years in his prison cell.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    What was he thinking??
    February 18, 2013 5:31 pm
    To pull over with somebody behind you so enraged?? Drive to the next police station or public place but don't pull over just out on the road. In a way that could've looked like he was the aggressor. Not trying to excuse anything this retard did to this man but people, please, don't be so naive or be ready for the worst, meaning you better know how to fight or have a weapon.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • skunkbeach wrote...
    What was he thinking??
    February 18, 2013 5:46 pm
    He was going to say he was sorry. I hear thats what people used to do before gutless thugs ran Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gomariners wrote...
    What WAS he thinking??
    February 18, 2013 6:23 pm
    He said he "tapped" on his breaks when he saw the guy was tailgating him - more like he hit them pretty hard ie get off behind. Then he pulled over and said, "what's up".... come on. Of course he did not deserve any of what he got but who pulls over after someone is riding your tail to apologize? I don't buy that in the least. I am happy that he lived and that someone was there to help him. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope this animal is caught. Lesson learned, don't pull over.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    skunkbeach
    February 18, 2013 6:36 pm
    Wow, you must be living a very sheltered life to make that statement. Thugs like this guy have been around since the dawn of time and usually people who ignore that fact are way more likely to end up like this guy.....or worse.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    I am in no way defending this thug
    February 18, 2013 6:40 pm
    and people who read my posts know that I feel very strongly about harsher punishment including death penalties. It is the liberals in this state that want us to believe that if we are nice and polite to thugs like this they will in return not harm us and just smile at us. Get real!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vern ivan wrote...
    Savage attack::
    February 19, 2013 1:32 am
    What causes promote such actions ? Pent frustration I would suspect.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    I'm sorry that someone like myself or anybody else able bodied wasn't there
    February 19, 2013 7:58 am
    to stop this attack, it's sad that this piece of trash attacked this man and then a disabled Vietnam Veteran... I don't claim to be the greatest fighter on two feet and i'm not trying to claim keyboard hero status and show false bravado, but i can tell you i would have done whatever i could to intervene and stop this, the Police said this was a short black man that weighed maybe 150 pounds... I believe i could have restrained him... I feel so bad that nobody else was there to help... this thug needs to be dealt with... I hope if it's true that there's a woman that was with him, that she gets brought up on charges too for not saying anything after this happened... What a couple of worthless human beings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }