A Sundre-area male is facing an assault charge following a road rage incident last month that led to a physical altercation in an Olds parking lot.
On Saturday, March 11, Jim Cammaert, 45, allegedly confronted an adult male from the Olds area because of rocks that were thrown up from the victim's vehicle into his own, said the Olds RCMP detachment's Cpl. Michael Black, adding police arrested the suspect that same day and proceeded to press the assault charge.
"The injuries were fairly minor," said Black about the victim's condition.
The victim sought medical treatment but no hospital stay was required. Had the injuries been more grievous, the charge police laid would have been more serious, such as assault causing bodily harm, he said.
Cammaert is scheduled to be back in Didsbury provincial court on Monday, May 1.
Drivers who are losing their patience with other motorists for whatever reason should take a moment to reconsider before losing their temper and resorting to a regrettable physical confrontation, he advised.
"Take a second sober thought; take a breath. Are you going to care about it in a year?"
As for anyone who might find him- or herself the unwitting target of an angry driver, Black urges caution.
The officer said people on the receiving end of road rage have no way of knowing the aggressor's mindset or whether that individual might potentially be armed with any kind of weapon, from a tire iron to a knife or even a firearm.
"Stay in your vehicle, lock the doors and call the police."
Although there are occasionally such incidents occurring along the Highway 2 corridor, the corporal said he could not recollect a similar incident in Olds during his time in that community.
During his three years of service with the Olds RCMP, Black said this case of road rage was a "one off, for sure" in that municipality.
