Lacey Police Charge 77-Year-Old Man In Road Rage Incident

Lacey police recently charged a 77-year-old Forked River with criminal mischief and careless driving after a ”road rage” incident at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Anchor Drive, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Sergeant Robert Flynn, along with Officers Patrick Watkins and George Resetar, responded to the scene at 9:47 p.m. on June 14 on a report of a road rage incident that resulted in a two-car crash, the chief said.

Investigation at the scene determined that just prior to the crash, Dale Pierson, 77, believed he was being followed by the vehicle behind him and made a U-turn on Sunrise Boulevard to try and flee the other vehicle, Paprota said.

The other vehicle was driven by Nicholas Blaszka, 27, Forked River. Blaszka was on the phone with police headquarters reporting Pierson as an erratic driver. While Pierson made the U-turn, Blaszka stopped, began to back up and collided with the passenger side of the Pierson vehicle, the chief said.

Dale Pierson reportedly exited his vehicle after the crash. He approached Blaszka‘s driver side door and began punching the driver‘s side door, which caused $200 in damage.

Blaszka told police he was following Pierson because he was driving aggressively and nearly caused an accident. Blaszka was issued a traffic summons for careless driving. Pierson was charged with operating an unregistered vehicle, conducting an improper U-turn and criminal mischief for the damage to the car, Paprota said.

A 72-year-old female passenger in the Pierson vehicle was transported by Lacey EMS to Community Medical Center in Toms River with chest pains, the chief said.