Angry motorist punches woman for driving error

A Cape Girardeau woman took a punch in the face, apparently becoming a victim of road rage Tuesday afternoon when a man assaulted her for driving her car into his lane of traffic.

Police confirmed witness accounts that she had just exited from the Hardee's parking lot going east on William Street and was moving into the left passing lane, unaware a blue van was fast approaching behind her until it was nearly too late. Seeing the van in her mirror and realizing her mistake, the woman stepped hard on her gas pedal and pulled into the right-hand lane.

But instead of continuing on his way, the man driving the van started yelling and honking his horn at her. After about a block, he maneuvered his van to force her over to the side of the street.

When they stopped, the man hopped out of the van and walked over to the woman's car window, which was partially rolled down. With one hand, he reached through and grabbed her coat collar, and with the other punched her in the face with a gloved hand. He yelled some more and then got back into his van and drove away.

The victim did not report any injuries, police said. Another woman who saw the attack called police. There were no arrests as of late Tuesday.

Some drivers equate their car as part of their personal space and get mad when another driver seems too close, said counselor Del McKinney of the Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau. They justify their reactions by dehumanizing others on the road.

"When you're that kind of driver, the other person is not a real person to you," he said.

Many times, raging drivers feel a need to punish other drivers who offend them with their driving, McKinney said.

The center runs anger management courses periodically, in which participants are taught to recognize warning signs of their rage, which include thoughts of other drivers being "unfair" or "in my way," McKinney said. Some attend the courses to meet requirements for court-ordered counseling.

Counselors try to get participants to turn their attention away from the "hot thoughts" that are going through their heads," McKinney said.

Selzer said physical violence in incidents of road rage is rare for Cape Girardeau.

"Your normal person may get angry at another driver, yell or wave a fist, but to actually do this shows he has a propensity for violence," Selzer said.

For victims, road rage can be traumatic and leave them feeling vulnerable and violated, McKinney said.

"They can feel somewhat powerless, afterward," he said. "We encourage them to talk with someone they can trust, whether that be a counselor or a friend. One way to get that feeling of power back is to have police press charges."

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160