DETROIT, MI – Michigan State Police are investigating a violent road rage incident that occurred Sunday afternoon on the Southfield Freeway near Puritan in Detroit.
According to troopers, at about 1:00 p.m. on October 12, a driver in an orange Dodge Challenger allegedly began harassing the occupants of a Toyota. The incident escalated when the Challenger driver reportedly exited his vehicle and kicked the Toyota several times for no apparent reason.
Trying to get away, the Toyota’s driver re-entered the freeway. While traveling southbound near 7 Mile, the suspect cut in front of the Toyota and “brake-checked” them, causing a crash. Both vehicles stopped in the center lane, where the suspect climbed onto the Toyota’s hood and kicked in the windshield before fleeing the scene.
Troopers used nearby technology and eventually located the Challenger near Grand River and Livernois, but the driver refused to stop. For safety reasons, MSP did not pursue due to the suspect’s reckless driving.
As investigators prepared a search warrant, they learned that Southfield Police had already taken the suspect into custody in an unrelated incident. The Challenger was seized, and investigators are submitting a report to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
“The callers in this incident tried everything to get away from this suspect,” said F/Lt. Mike Shaw. “We remind drivers who encounter aggressive drivers to call 911 while trying to separate themselves. You just don’t know what these suspects might do.”