West Des Moines Couple Reported Victims of Road Rage Along Interstate

A West Des Moines driver who tapped his brakes when his vehicle was being tailgated by another reported he was threatened with a baseball bat by the other driver and had something thrown at his car, scratching the paint.

Casey Adams of West Des Moines reported he was the victim of a road rage attack about 2:15 p.m. April 21 on Interstate 80 westbound near the Jordan Creek Parkway exit, according to a report.

Adams told Officer Shawn Miller that he and his wife, Elise, were driving westbound in their 2008 Acura on Interstate 235 near 22^nd Street when a silver Chrysler Town and Country van was tailgating the Adams car. Adams said he applied his brakes to slow down, which apparently upset the van’s driver, who was cut off by another vehicle.

Adams continued westbound onto Interstate 80; the van drove in front of his car and in the 7000 block of I80 someone in the van threw a handful of an unknown material — possibly ice — at Adams’ vehicle.

Miller said the Acura had several small marks on its passenger side rear quarter panel where the paint was chipped off. The officer estimated damage at $300.

While Adams was on the Jordan Creek Parkway exit ramp the van stopped in front of him. Both the van’s driver and a passenger got out of the vehicle with one holding what appeared to be a baseball bat. Adams drove away from the scene, lost sight of the van, and met police at the Casey’s General Store at 92^nd and University in Waukee.

Adams described the van’s driver as a black man about 5-foot 10-inches tall, weighing about 275 pounds, and wearing baggy jeans and a jacket. The passenger was a black man with dreadlocks down to his shoulders.

The van is registered to a Humeston woman. The investigation continues with charges of fourth-degree vandalism and putting debris on the roadway possible.