I-70 road rage incident leads to gunfire, arrest

BRAZIL -- A 52-year-old Missouri man was arrested on four felony charges Monday following a road rage incident occurring along Interstate 70 in Clay and Vigo counties.

At approximately noon, troopers from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post responded to an emergency 911 call near the 24-mile marker westbound on I-70 in Clay County, reporting road rage that led to gunfire. The reported incident involved a driver of a silver Mercury allegedly firing a weapon at a black Honda, State Police reported.

A short time later, Indiana State Police troopers and officers from the Terre Haute Police Department were able to locate the two vehicles near a gas station on U.S. 41 in Vigo County and detained the driver of the Mercury.

ISP detectives said the preliminary investigation indicated the driver of the Mercury, Michael E. Smith of Wentzville, Mo. became enraged at the driver of the other vehicle while traveling on I-70 and allegedly fired at least one shot at the Honda, striking the other vehicle which was occupied by an adult driver and one child. Detectives were able to secure evidence at the scene.

As a result of the investigation, Smith was arrested and transported to the Clay County Justice Center, where he is facing charges of:

-- Intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony

-- Criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony

-- Criminal recklessness (two counts), a Level 6 felony.

Investigating officers were Putnamville Troopers Jason Schoffstall, Ryan Winters, Rondell Shelton and CSI Sgts. Michael Organ and Tim Rader.