Authorities Investigate Armed Road Rage Incident on U. S. 93 South [AUDIO]
On Tuesday, Missoula County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a road rage incident in which a woman brandished a handgun at another driver.
Public Information Officer Paige Pavalone said the incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m. as two individuals, a male and a female were traveling north into Missoula from Lolo.
"The male reported that a female was in front of him and she brake-checked him, and then the female reported that the male pulled in front of her and brake-checked her," Pavalone said. "They were stopped at the intersection of 93 and Blue Mountain Road when the male rolled down his window to yell at the female. At that point, she brandished a firearm that she either pulled from her purse or from the glove compartment. The male became even more angry, and got out of his car at the red light to confront the woman, but she drove off."
Pavalone said both vehicles pulled into the Walmart parking lot in Missoula where city police and county deputies were called.
"Officers consulted with both parties," Pavalone said. "The weapon was secured and statements were taken from both individuals. Authorities determined that it was a road rage incident that had been mishandled by both parties. Both were warned and released and the information was forwarded to the Missoula County Attorney's office to determine whether or not charges might be filed."
Pavalone said the man and woman could both be charged with disorderly conduct as well as various traffic offenses.
"It's a high traffic area, and the highway is the main corridor running into and out of the Bitterroot," she said. "There are thousands of cars traveling that road every day, and it's very congested. People get angry when other drivers are traveling too slow, so if you see people lining up behind you, get into a slower lane and let people get past you. This is just a reminder for people to keep a cool head and have courtesy for the motoring public."
Pavalone said no one was injured in the road rage incident.