Public’s Help Sought in Puna Road Rage Incident

Police are looking for the public’s help regarding a reported road rage incident that occurred Wednesday morning near the intersection of Highway 130 and Ainaloa Boulevard.

A 59-year-old Puna man told police that while driving toward Pahoa at about 8:15 a.m., he overtook and passed a Toyota pickup truck just south of the intersection. The man told police that the Toyota then approached the Puna man’s truck and struck it three times from behind, with the third strike sending his vehicle into a slide.

The Puna man then drove to the Pahoa police station. The suspect followed but drove away before police could contact him. He was last seen driving back up Highway 130 toward Ainaloa.

The suspect’s truck was described as a dark-colored new Toyota Tacoma four-door pickup truck, possibly black or charcoal gray in color. It appeared to have a lifted suspension.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have information about it to call Officer Shawn Tingle at 965-2716.