Police: Bus Driver Shoots Man During Possible Road Rage Incident On I-95 In Delaware
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NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS) -- A 53-year-old man is in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the torso after an altercation with another driver on I-95 NB in New Castle, according to Delaware State Police, who believe this was an incident of road rage.
Authorities say their preliminary investigation reveals that the shooting victim pepper sprayed the driver of a St. Francis Life Center paratransit bus.
Sgt. Richard Bratz says it began just after 2 p.m. on Route 40 when the driver of a Dodge Durango began to follow the driver of a paratransit bus, moving to the right and left of that bus, while appearing to wave a cellphone.
The driver of the Durango reportedly continued to follow the other driver onto Route 1 until both ultimately pulled over on the shoulder of I-95.
Police say when both exited their vehicles, the older man pepper-sprayed the 28-year-old bus driver, who in turn fired a single shot with a handgun.
Desmond Chisholm says he was driving to work when he saw a bleeding man on the side of the highway and stopped to help.
"All of us were like, 'Stop moving,' because we knew he got shot," he said. "I don't know what happened but for it to escalate to a point of someone getting shot, that's too far. The shooter told me, 'I shot him in self-defense.' He said, 'He had mace.'"
Officials add that the St. Francis driver called 911 and rendered first aid after firing that shot.
Chisholm, an HVAC technician who travels to jobs, says his training includes defensive driving.
"Being a professional driver, people say things to you all the time. You just gotta mind your own. You can't get out there and get in shootouts, that's just crazy."
Witnesses are asked to call Detective Amy Lloyd of Trooper 2 at 302-365-8411.