Driver Arrested for Hitting Bicyclist in Marin County Road Rage Incident

The California Highway Patrol arrested a Bolinas man for allegedly hitting a bicyclist with his vehicle during a road rage incident in west Marin County on Monday afternoon.

Mark Rafferty, 62, was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said.

The bicyclist, Charles Keane-Zirepolo, 25, of San Francisco, declined medical treatment at the scene and was released by paramedics, Barclay said.

Rafferty was driving a green Saturn sedan east on Point Reyes-Petaluma Road around 1:10 p.m. when Keane-Zirepolo drifted from the east shoulder into the east lane of the roadway, Barclay said. Rafferty honked his horn at the bicyclist and tried to pass Keane-Zirepolo and another bicyclist by crossing into the west lane.

Keane-Zirepolo then allegedly veered left across the lanes of traffic, causing Rafferty to brake hard to avoid a collision, Barclay said.

Rafferty drove further east and got out of his vehicle on the east shoulder to complain about how Keane-Zirepolo was riding, Barclay said.

Zirepolo allegedly gave Rafferty an obscene hand gesture as he passed Rafferty, who yelled at him to pull over, Barclay said. Keane-Zirepolo then rode back into the east lane to catch up with the other bicyclist.

Raffery got back in his car, accelerated toward Keane-Zirepolo on the right shoulder and allegedly rammed his car into the rear of his bicycle, Barclay said.

The collision crushed the rear wheel of the bike and Keane-Zirepolo was ejected onto a dirt hillside, Barclay said.

Rafferty drove east until he could turn around and returned to the collision scene.

After interviews with the bicyclists and witnesses, Rafferty was arrested, Barclay said.

--Bay City News