Driver followed, assaults motorist for stalling car at Mt Eliza traffic lights
A motorist has become so enraged after a car stalled in front of him at traffic lights on the Mornington Peninsula he chased down the vehicle and crashed into it before assaulting the driver.
South East
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An angry handyman who saw red because another driver had stalled was so upset he followed him, crashed into his car and assaulted him.
Mark Haworth was so furious at the unexpected delay he embarked on a mission to manhandle the motorist.
The 63-year-old from Mt Eliza pleaded guilty to recklessly cause injury and an illegal overtaking offence at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 22.
The court heard Haworth was driving along Canadian Bay Rd in Mt Eliza about 4.45pm on June 24 last year when he pulled up at an intersection to wait for a red light.
But as the lights turned green the car in front of him stalled.
Haworth beeped his horn, the other driver managed to get his car going and both vehicles drove off.
But Haworth was so peeved at the short delay he pulled up alongside the other car – despite it being a single lane road – and then overtook him.
As he pulled back into the lane Haworth carelessly veered into the other driver’s vehicle and crashed into his wing and bumper.
Around 100m away both drivers pulled over before Haworth verbally abused the other man and pushed him very hard in his chest.
Haworth then calmed down, and they swapped insurance details and both drove away.
The victim went to the doctor and he was diagnosed with a fractured rib.
When police interviewed Haworth he said he was the victim, and that the other man “had come up in my face”, but he did admit pushing him.
Haworth’s defence lawyer said the self-employed appliance maintenance man had never been in trouble with the law before and this act was completely out of character.
He said this “was an aberration”, it wouldn’t happen again and he had done a road trauma awareness course to help him behave better behind the wheel.
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Magistrate Ross Betts said perhaps Haworth should do an anger management course as well.
He accepted this was his first offence and he had pleaded guilty, but road rage was serious and if he had any similar priors he would have been going to jail.
Haworth was convicted and fined $2000.