NH Troopers Call For Change After Serious Road Rage Accident
MANCHESTER, NH (CBS) - New Hampshire State Police Troopers say far too often drivers are losing their tempers on the road, causing crashes that in some cases claim lives.
Troopers are concerned about this growing problem.
In a recent case, two drivers were interacting for about seven miles before they finally crashed. This was an extreme result, but police say they're getting emergency calls every day about road rage.
A smashed up Isuzu Rodeo is the result of a road rage crash that shut down the Everett Turnpike for four hours. The driver of the SUV was thrown from his vehicle.
"These two were definitely involved in some kind of aggressive road rage incident," says Trooper Kieran Fagan. "In which case, the aftermath, someone got seriously injured."
Witnesses told police it started when the SUV cut off a blue Aveo right near the Bedford tolls. That's when the two drivers got into it with the SUV tailing the smaller car.
The driver of that Chevy Aveo admits there was some back and forth starting at the Bedford tolls. He insists by the time they got about seven miles down the highway, it was the other driver who rear-ended him.
This case got lots of attention because it closed the highway, but troopers say they get road rage calls every day. There's been a big jump in aggressive driving.
"Unfortunately this is what actually does happen," says Trooper Fagan. We've had guns pulled on people; cars pushed off the road where people get out of the car get in full blown fistfights on the side of the road."
Why it's happening, they're just not sure. But they do know how drivers can stop it.
"The best thing for people to do is just let it go because it's not worth it," says Trooper Fagan.
No one's been charged in the crash, but right now police say, it seems one car was clearly the aggressor here. Still, if both drivers engaged in aggressive behavior, they could both face charges.
