At a busy intersection in Graham, a confrontation between drivers escalated when a 67-year-old man exited his vehicle and pushed a 55-year-old woman to the ground. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office released footage of the incident on Friday, accompanied by a cautionary statement.
"If you ever experience a road rage incident, remember these two things: It's not worth getting hurt or arrested over, and NEVER get out of your car," the Sheriff's Office emphasized in its online post.
Authorities reported that the man was taken into custody on Wednesday at the intersection of 224th Street East and Meridian, facing allegations of assault and vehicle damage, both classified as misdemeanors. It remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed, as his identity was not disclosed in the online report.
Witness footage shows the man rushing toward the woman as she stood near her SUV in a left-turn lane, forcefully pushing her and causing her to fall against her vehicle. Another individual soon appeared to intervene.
According to body-camera video shared by the Sheriff's Office, the altercation began with both drivers engaging in aggressive behavior while traveling down the street. The suspect then left his car at a traffic light, approached the victim's vehicle, and damaged a door handle.
The victim explained in the footage that she exited her car to record the man's license plate after he struck her locked door and window. She described being shoved with "full force" during the encounter.
Medical personnel assessed the woman for a head injury and determined she did not require further treatment. The suspect remained at the scene and cooperated with deputies.
"With all the road closures and the traffic lights that have been out over the last couple of days, it has been stressful driving," stated Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Carly Cappetto in a video on the office's blog.
Officials urged the public to contact 911 and seek safety if involved in a road rage situation.
"Road rage leads to bad things, and it's not uncommon for someone to get hurt in a preventable situation," the office noted. "It's not that deep, let it go."
