Incidents of road rage that happen across our country are increasing each year. On a far too frequent basis, drivers are acting out their anger and aggression when they get behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 50% of people say that they have sparked a case of road rage due to a mistake they made on the road. Because more than 90% of all accidents can be attributed to human error, anything can set an aggressive driver off. If a motorist is angry enough, they can become violent, and it can go from verbal assault all the way to murder.
Station KTAR in Phoenix reported on their website that road rage might have been what led to an incident where a pedestrian was killed after being punched by a motorist.
The Phoenix Police Department said in a statement that they had taken a suspect into custody in connection to the fatal accident which left R.J. Dunton, 22, dead. Police have arrested Aaren Shivers, 37, on suspicion of second-degree murder.
The accident was initially called in to 911 dispatchers as involving a motorist –pedestrian crash. When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they found Dunton critically injured and lying in the roadway. Dunton was taken to an area hospital for treatment. He was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Investigators have determined that Shivers punched Dunton, causing him to fall into oncoming traffic. He was then struck by another vehicle. Officers found that Shivers was not impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of his arrest.
