Vehicle rammed in apparent road rage incident

A Coatesville man was the victim of an apparent road rage incident on Saturday.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., David M. Coward, 20, Coatesville, was eastbound on 240 approaching County Road 500 East in a 1987 Chevrolet van.

Coward told Deputy Robert Soilleux a dark green Jeep Patriot cut him off by turning eastbound from 500 East. The driver of the Patriot then drove very slowly before turning north onto County Road 525 East.

Coward said he honked his horn and had to slam on his brakes to avoid a collision.

He added that this seemed to enrage the driver of the Patriot, who then pulled back onto 240 and chased Coward eastbound in the westbound lane, almost hitting oncoming traffic.

The Patriot then swerved back into the westbound lane and rammed Coward’s van from behind. Coward and his passenger said they could hear the other driver screaming obscenities during the incident.

They said the Patriot drove off the south side of the road and into a grass field, where it turned around and fled westbound an a high rate of speed.

Coward was able to provide a partial plate number for the vehicle of 146S--.

Soilleux and other officers searched the area and could not find the suspect vehicle.

The van received damage to the rear, particularly the bumper, doors and spare tire.

Both Coward and his passenger said they were not injured and refused medical aid.