Road rage turns to sledgehammer assault in Renton
Feb 7, 2012, 3:47 PM | Updated: 5:05 pm
The two drivers then pulled over and continued their argument until the minivan driver got his sledgehammer out and hit the other man in the shoulder. (Image courtesy Washington State Patrol)
(Image courtesy Washington State Patrol)
A road rage incident on Highway 167 near I-405 in Renton ended with a crash, sledgehammer attack and one man hauled off to jail.
According to the Washington State Patrol, tempers started flaring when the driver of a minivan made a lane change Tuesday morning and allegedly cut off the driver of a sports car. The sports car driver retaliated by getting in front of the van and hitting his brakes, causing a collision.
The two drivers then pulled over and continued their argument until the minivan driver got his sledgehammer out and hit the other man in the shoulder.
“It happened to be a small sledgehammer and he did hit him with it,” described WSP tropper Julie Startup. ” No visible injuries so it wasn’t a really, really hard hit.”
Trooper said it’s still considered an assault and the minivan driver was arrested and taken to jail. The other driver was still nursing his shoulder when troopers arrived. He wasn’t off the hook – the sports car driver was cited for negligent driving.
