May 16, 2009 4:53 pm US/Eastern
NY Police: Road Rage May Have Led To L.I. Death
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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The 34-year-old driver of this yellow Porsche was killed in an apparent case of road rage in Long Beach on May 15, 2009.
CBS
Police say road rage at a Long Island intersection has left a 34-year-old man dead and a 22-year-old facing criminal charges.
Nassau County police say both men apparently had been driving aggressively on Friday, triggering a confrontation.
Witnesses told police the victim left his sports car, ran in front of the other car and began yelling. They say the car's driver accelerated, struck the man and drove away.
Evan Richard Potts, a Queens College student, has pleaded not guity to second-degree manslaughter. He's being held on $500,000 cash bail or $5 million bond till his next court appearance on Tuesday.
His attorney, Stanley Kopilow, says the incident was triggered by "unreasonable anger" on the victim's part and "panic" on Pott's part.
"If you have ever had your foot stepped on and pushed backwards, that's what it looked like. The car hit his leg right in line with the wheel on the driver's side, the guy went straight back, hit his head real hard, and the kid just stepped on the accelerator, went right over him like he was a cat in the road," said witness John Messina.
The driver of the Altima sped off before being chased down and detained by passersby until he could be arrested by police.
Witness Eileen Kelly heard the suspect once in handcuffs apologizing to police, saying it was an accident
"He was speaking to the police officer and he was saying, 'I was trying to get away from him, I was trying to get away from him. I even called 911 on my cell phone, check my cell phone,'" she said.
Police describe an angry exchange of words between the two drivers, one may have cut off another several blocks away when the Porsche pulled up perpendicular to the Altima, boxing him in.
"We believe he extended his arms and said something to him. We believe it was a profanity. We don't know the exact phrase that was used, but at that time the driver stepped on the gas, struck him, might have dragged him for a short period of time,"
Messina thinks it was the victim to blame for the incident getting out of his Porsche, banging on the hood of the Altima, and threatening the suspect.
"I understand road rage, it happens, but this guy took it a step too far," he said.
The Long Beach City Manager has urged calm until all the facts are in, saying this apparent road rage incident has become a nightmare for both families.
The victim's name is being held until relatives are notified.
CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan contributed to this report.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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