Crime & Safety
Marin Man Accused of Road Rage, Brake Checking Bicyclist
CHP officials say the man stopped his Tesla right in front of two bicyclists, causing one of them to slam into the vehicle.
A Mill Valley man is accused of deliberately hitting a bicyclist this weekend, when he allegedly brake-checked the rider on a local highway in a fit of road rage, according to the California Highway Patrol.
John Donovan, 41, was arrested following the collision on state Highway 1 north of Panoramic Highway west of Mill Valley around 11 a.m. Saturday, CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said.
The bicyclist, Jonathan Kibera, 38, of Mill Valley, and Alex Boal, 38, of Corte Madera, were riding their bicycles south on Highway 1 when a group of vehicles began passing them, Barclay said.
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Boal allegedly raised his middle finger when one of the vehicles honked at him. That’s when a hit-and-run happened, authorities said.
“The last vehicle to pass the cyclists was a black Tesla which proceeded to pull in front of the two cyclists and slow to a speed which prevented the cyclists from passing,” Barclay said in a news release.
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The Tesla driver, identified later as Donovan, appeared “...to be intentionally trying to impede the cyclist’s movements and eventually applied a quick braking application,” Barclay said.
The Mill Valley cyclist then slammed into the back of the Tesla, before flying off, according to the CHP. The car’s driver sped away.
However, the bicyclists and other witnesses were able to get the Tesla’s license plate number and provide it to police, Barclay said. CHP officers identified Donovan as the registered owner of the Tesla and they encountered the vehicle while en route to Donovan’s residence, Barclay said.
“Through their investigation, officers determined that Donovan had been driving the vehicle at the time of the collision and had driven in an intentional manner that caused injury to Kibera,” Barclay said. “The investigation further revealed that Donovan was aware of the collision and intentionally fled the scene.”
The Mill Valley Tesla driver was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing injury, Barclay said.
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