Southington PD: State Police Now Probing Highway Stabbing

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The police investigation regarding the road rage knife attack of a motorist on Interstate 84 in town Sunday is now in the hands of Connecticut State Police.

Southington police initially assumed the probe of an incident involving a reported knife-wielding Prius driver stabbing another motorist on the highway.

But, upon further consultation with the courts, state police are in charge of the investigation because it has been confirmed to have happened on I-84, Southington police said Thursday in an updated statement.

Southington police said earlier this week the victim provided conflicting information regarding where the attack actually happened, reporting Southington, Plainville and I-84.

Southington police said anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Connecticut State Police. The phone number for the state police's Troop H barracks in Hartford is (860) 534-1000.

The male victim, was hospitalized after he was stabbed by a fellow driver on I-84 east in the Southington area early Sunday morning, Southington police said.
The man told police after he got on the highway, a gold Toyota Prius came speeding up behind him, driving closely behind his rear bumper.

The driver then started speeding up and slowing down and alternating his car's high beams on and off, the victim reportedly told police.

Eventually the victim said he felt a bump at the back of his car, so he put his hazard lights on, pulled over to the highway's shoulder and got out of the car — at which point, police said, the Prius stopped closely behind him.

The victim reported the Prius' driver, a man in his 30s, approached him and "stabbed him in his left side, before quickly returning to his vehicle, backing up, and taking off east on I-84," Southington police said.

After the incident, the victim called 911 and got off I-84 at exit 32, where he waited for officers, who arrived at around 12:23 a.m.

The victim, who was eventually hospitalized, told Southington police the Prius driver was a white man wearing a camouflage ball cap, camouflage hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

This report includes information from former Patch staff member Gabby DeBenedictis.