'Road Rage' Driver Slashes Throat Of Man Defending Woman In Suffolk Attack: Cops

FARMINGVILLE, NY — A man who tried to intervene, defending a woman involved in a road rage altercation that spilled over from the Long Island Expressway, had his throat slashed Wednesday night, Suffolk police said.

Around 10:15 p.m., a woman was driving a 2007 BMW westbound on the Long Island Expressway between Exits 64 and 63 with a man and a female passenger, "when she became involved in a road rage incident" with a man who was driving in a sedan that was traveling in the same direction, police said.

Both vehicles left the LIE at Exit 63 and stopped for a traffic light at Express Drive North where it intersects with North Ocean Avenue, police said, adding that the suspect left his car and went over to the BMW, and tried to open the drivers' side door, which was locked.

He then reached into an open rear window to grab the woman, but a man, who was in the back seat, intervened by grabbing the suspect's arm and a struggle ensued, in which the suspect cut the man’s throat, causing a four-inch laceration, police said.

The woman, who could hear the commotion in the rear seat, drove through the red light "to escape the assault" and drove on to City MD on North Ocean Avenue for help, according to police.

The suspect got back into his car and sped away northbound on North Ocean Avenue, police said, adding that the injured passenger was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect has been described by police as having a medium build, brown eyes, and brown curly hair, and he appeared to be in his mid-30s to 40s. He was wearing a winter hat and a light blue t-shirt. The sedan he was driving has been described as a royal blue four-door, possibly a Mazda 3 or 6, with yellow New York license plates.

There was possibly a female passenger in the sedan with the man, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Sixth Squad detectives at 631-854-8652 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline.