Boston police are investigating a reported road rage incident where a suspect reportedly attacked another driver and their vehicle with a hatchet.
Around 11:42 p.m. Friday, police said they responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash with possible injuries in the area of 1032 Commonwealth Avenue in the city's Brighton neighborhood. As police were responding to the scene, they were alerted by dispatch that a man armed with a hatchet or small axe was reportedly smashing the windows of the crashed vehicle.
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WATCH HEREA preliminary investigation determined that the vehicle, a Toyota Prius, had been driving south on Commonwealth Avenue at a high rate of speed when it veered to the right and jumped the median separating the road from the bicycle lanes, crashing into a tree on the sidewalk.
The Prius had extensive damage and the airbags had deployed, police said. Multiple windows had been smashed, apparently by a hard, sharp-edged object.
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SIGN UP The driver of the crashed vehicle told police he had been encroached upon in traffic by a pickup truck in the area of Cambridge Street. The driver said he was chased and forced off the road by the other driver's dangerous driving.
The driver of the Prius said he felt disoriented after the crash but recalled the suspect approached him and began smashing his vehicle windows with a hammer or axe. He said the suspect swung the hatchet at him and chased him down the street a short distance.
Witnesses told police they saw the suspect chasing the victim along the sidewalk armed with an axe. One witness showed police clear cellphone video showing the suspect smashing the victim's vehicle repeatedly with a small hatchet.
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The victim suffered a hand injury in the crash and was treated at the scene but refused transport to a hospital.
On Sunday, Boston police released photos of the alleged suspect, asking for the public's help identifying him in connection with the aggravated assault.
The man is described as about 25 years old with a slight build, brown medium-length hair and a short beard. He was wearing a white T-shirt, with a plain front and lettering on the back, blue jeans, and brown sneakers.
Police are continuing to investigate what happened but say the unknown suspect reportedly chased the victim in his vehicle at a high rate of speeding causing the victim to crash. The suspect then exited his gray pickup truck with a hatchet, assaulted the victim, and vandalized the victim’s vehicle after they fled, breaking the windows and windshield.
The suspect fled on Babcock Street in the direction of Brookline, police say.
Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact detectives at 617-343-4256, or the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS. Photos and videos related to the investigation can also be submitted anonymously via CrimeStoppers. Text "TIP" to CRIME (27463).
