Editor’s note: This story originally stated the suspect’s vehicle was a Chevrolet Aveo. However, on Wednesday police said they now believe the vehicle was a silver Pontiac Wave, not an Aveo.
An Edmonton woman was taken to hospital with two broken arms after she was hit with a crow bar during what police are calling a vicious road rage incident in southeast Edmonton Tuesday morning.
Edmonton police spokesperson Scott Pattison said police believe the suspect was swinging for the woman’s head but she was able to block the crow bar with her arms.
“Having two broken arms is a devastating event for anybody, both physically and emotionally, and I know the family is traumatized by this, having spoken with investigators. They’re frightened,” Pattison said.
“We have an individual running around the city obviously with some anger management issues.”
At around 6:30 a.m., police were called to the area of 76 Avenue and 87 Street.
Police were told a 34-year-old woman was heading north on 87 Street when she approached a silver Pontiac Wave. The Wave was stopped in the eastbound lane as she attempted to turn onto 77 Avenue.
The woman honked her horn, then passed the vehicle.
Police said the driver of the Pontiac followed the woman to a nearby home in the King Edward Park neighbourhood. When the woman got out of her vehicle to go inside the house, the male suspect ran up to her and hit her on both arms with a crow bar, police said in a media release Tuesday.
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The woman was taken to hospital and underwent surgery for two broken arms.
“No road rage is acceptable but when you have a mother who was just on her way home after dropping off her husband at work, when she encountered a violent individual, it just gives us all pause, certainly, in the police service,” Pattison said.
Police hope dashcam pictures will help identify the suspect, who is described as approximately 30 years old, 6’1″ tall, with a medium build, brown hair and blue eyes. Police said he was wearing a grey toque, blue jeans and a dark-coloured jacket at the time. (See pictures below).
The suspect’s vehicle is believed to be a mid-2000s silver Pontiac Wave with a seven-digit Alberta licence plate that starts with the letter B. The vehicle is also equipped with a small fin/spoiler on the rear hatch and steel (winter) rims on the tires.
Officers said a woman with a long white coat, and a man walking two dark-coloured dogs were across the street from where the incident happened. They’re looking to speak with these potential witnesses.
Pattison said Edmonton has seen a few road rage incidents in the last few months and wants to remind motorists these types of incidents are unacceptable.
“The message to everybody out there that’s driving (is) we all have our moments of impatience, but certainly this crosses the line far beyond what’s acceptable. And we all need to be patient and drive together safely and calmly.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
The following surveillance pictures provided by police are dated 2015 but officers advised the date on the dashcam is incorrect.
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