Video Of Truck Flipping On Route 17 In Alleged Road Rage Incident

MAHWAH, NJ — Police released two videos of an alleged road rage incident on Route 17 Tuesday, including one showing a tractor-trailer carrying candy flipping over.

The driver of a gray SUV saw on Route 17 North what he thought was a tractor-trailer being driven aggressively and changing lanes recklessly, said Chief James Batelli. The SUV driver "decided to take matters into his own hands" and slow the tractor-trailer down so as to prevent an accident.

The Mahwah Police Department released two videos of the incident, one before the tractor-trailer flips over and another that shows the flip over. The videos were filmed by a dashboard-mounted camera on a tractor-trailer that was behind the flip over.

The SUV got into the left-hand lane of the highway in front of the tractor-trailer and slowed his vehicle down, the chief said.

The tractor-trailer driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the center median. The tractor-trailer flipped over and slid across Route 17 North.

"Miraculously, no other vehicles struck the tractor-trailer, which could have resulted in a major accident since it occurred at about 9:46 a.m. on a weekday," Batelli said.

Police investigated the crash and issued summonses to the 36-year-old tractor-trailer driver for careless driving, failure to maintain a lane, and failure to signal. The 44-year-old SUV driver from Montebello, New York was issued summonses for reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane, failure to signal, and delaying traffic.

Mahwah Police Traffic Bureau supervisor Lt. Scott Cherven said motorists should avoid the temptation to try and retaliate, seek revenge, or intimidate what they believe is an aggressive driver.

"What starts out as a motor vehicle violation can easily escalate into a very dangerous situation with the potential of very serious, if not dangerous outcomes," Cherven said.

Batelli agreed.

"In this latest incident, the proper approach would have been for the driver of the SUV to have dialed 911 and report the tractor-trailer to law enforcement," Batelli said. "Road rage incidents have led to many injuries and, in some cases, deaths across the country."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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