OPP charge 37-year-old man following viral Temiskaming Shores road rage incident
A 37-year-old man is facing multiple charges following a road rage incident that took place in Temiskaming Shores on Monday. The shocking incident, which was captured on dash cam footage and went viral on social media, showed the victim desperately calling 911 as he tried to escape from a white Toyota Rav 4 SUV that had repeatedly rammed into his vehicle on Highway 11.
OPP Provincial Constable Martin Thibault commented on the incident, stating, “We do have the odd road rage incident that we do have to deal with occasionally, but I would say that this is an isolated incident and this individual obviously may have had other issues going on as well.” Thibault revealed that officers had to resort to deploying a spike belt in order to apprehend the driver of the white SUV.
The man now faces charges for dangerous operation of a vehicle, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, and breach of recognizance. Thibault confirmed that both the accused and the victim sustained minor injuries as a result of the road rage altercation.
In a separate but related note, road rage incidents in Sudbury have been reported to remain steady over the past few years. In 2022, Sudbury police received 120 calls related to road rage, with the numbers increasing slightly to 123 reported incidents in 2023 and 125 in 2024. Greater Sudbury Police spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn emphasized the importance of taking precautions to avoid falling victim to road rage, such as avoiding last-minute lane changes, allowing faster motorists to pass, and refraining from honking the horn unnecessarily.
Dunn also provided guidance on how to handle a road rage incident that escalates into a collision, advising victims to remain calm and stay in their vehicles until law enforcement arrives to prevent further escalation. If exiting the vehicle becomes necessary due to safety concerns, Dunn recommended staying far away from the other driver and seeking refuge in a public space. Additionally, she stressed the importance of noting the other driver’s physical description in case they fail to stop at the scene of the crash.
As road rage incidents continue to pose a threat on the roads, it is crucial for drivers to exercise caution and restraint in order to prevent dangerous situations from spiraling out of control.
