CBS2 Exclusive: NJ Detective Acquitted In Road Rage Incident Advises Others To Keep Cool
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Every year, road rage spins out of control – with hundreds of deaths caused by rising tensions on the road.
As CBS2's Jessica Schneider reported Tuesday night, New Jersey Police Detective Joseph Walker spoke exclusively about the case that had him facing murder charges in Maryland – and advised others to stay level-headed.
"I went to turn onto this road to get onto the interstate, I made the left, and next thing I know I've got this car alongside me just yelling at us -- racial epithets, F this, F that," Walker said.
Walker, who works for the Hudson County prosecutor's office, said he was on coming back from family gathering in Odenton, Maryland when he got out to check his tires. He said Joseph Harvey Jr., 36, and anther man – came charging at him during the road rage incident on Route 3 in Millersville.
"As they started to get a little too close and ignoring what I was saying and when I could hear what they were saying—`[expletive] you, you're dead.' That's when I drew my weapon and I asked them again, `Please just go,'" Walker said. "At a certain point, I was in fear for me; I was in fear for my family. I had to."
Walker fired his weapon and killed Harvey.
Last summer, he told CBS2's Christine Sloan he was left with no choice other than to act in self-defense.
"I had to fire," he said. "There was nothing else."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that road rage is rising. In 2008, there were 179 crashes and 208 fatalities resulting from road rage. By 2012, there were 299 crashes and 37 deaths.
"The person reacts as if it's a life-or-death matter, rather than thinking the road rage itself could lead to an actual life or death encounter," said psychologist Dr. Robert Fraum.
Fraum specializes in treating people who suffer from road rage.
"It's almost always men who come to see me," he said. "They feel they've been disrespected."
When police responded, he led them on a foot chase on the upper level of the bridge.
Walker said people need to stop and reign in their emotions.
"People just need to learn how to just - there are some things you've just got to let go," Walker said. "Someone gives you the finger, someone cuts you off -- you just have to let it go."
Walker was found not guilty in his murder trial in July.
Experts recommend that if you are confronted by an aggressive driver, you should just avoid eye contact and get out of the way.
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