Driver charged with alcohol-fueled road rage incidents

Winnipeg police have arrested a woman for drunk driving and assault with a weapon after a series of bizarre road rage incidents on Sunday night.

A suspect repeatedly slammed into another driver’s vehicle, including after the victim fled into a parking lot, police said.

“It’s important to note that we believe impaired driving played an important role, not just road rage,” said the Winnipeg Police Service Const. Jay Murray told the Free press, adding that police believe the intoxicant involved was alcohol.

At approximately 10 p.m. Sunday, police were contacted regarding an erratic vehicle near the Pembina Freeway and Bairdmore Boulevard. Shortly thereafter, officers arrived at Sage Creek after a second caller said they had been repeatedly struck by the same vehicle.

A third appellant testified that he saw the vehicle strike a light support before passing through a fence and into a yard.

The police helicopter crew found the vehicle in a restaurant behind the wheel of a nearby restaurant. Ground officers found the damaged vehicle and arrested the woman at the wheel.

Police believe that after the suspect was first seen driving erratically, she aggressively followed another driver down the Perimeter Freeway, flashing her lights, then stepping in front of him and slowing down quickly . The suspect crashed into the vehicle, followed the driver onto terrain, and continued to crash into his vehicle.

The victim was able to escape.

The accused is charged with impaired driving, disobeying a demand and assault with a weapon. She was released on contract.

So far this year, police have received 315 reports of road rage.

In an incident on August 14, police said road rage was the reason for the stabbing of a 29-year-old man in East Kildonan. Police believe an argument between people in two vehicles escalated. The two drivers stopped. One driver approached the other and stabbed a 29-year-old man, who was taken to hospital by the woman behind the wheel. The suspect fled. On August 30, a 20-year-old Winnipeg man was charged with aggravated assault. He was released on recognizance.

In 2020, police received 374 reports of road rage; in 2019, 448 incidents were reported.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca