An apparent road-rage incident between a motorcycle and a Nissan on the southbound 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita caught on video on Wednesday morning resulted in a rollover of a third vehicle, causing moderate injuries to its driver.
The incident began at 5:45 a.m. in the carpool lane on the southbound 14 Freeway at Newhall Avenue, said California Highway Patrol Officer Josh Greengard, who added authorities are looking for witnesses.
A Harley-Davidson-type motorcycle was traveling to the left of a Nissan in the carpool lane when the vehicles “engaged in an altercation” authorities said.
In the video, the motorcycle rider moves the bike closer to the Nissan and kicks the driver’s-side door before the vehicle swerves toward the bike, which causes it to lose control.
The kick from the motorcyclist and the swerve from the motorist are all part of what is considered road rage, and Greengard said authorities believe there was an additional altercation before the videotaped incidents.
As a result of the road-rage incident, officials explained, when the Nissan lost control, it crashed into a center divider before caroming into the No. 2 lane, where it broadsided a Cadillac truck, resulting in the Cadillac rolling over.
The Cadillac driver was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia with moderate injuries, authorities added.
Greengard said the driver was a man in his 70s from the Santa Clarita area.
The motorcyclist fled the scene in a southerly direction, and authorities are looking for him, Greengard said, adding there are some CHP officers searching based entirely on tips.
“If it’s a bogus lead, it’s a bogus lead,” Greengard explained.
There have been no arrests. The CHP has interviewed the driver of the Nissan, but authorities are “not divulging information on him,” as there could still be charges filed.
The crash momentarily stopped all traffic on the southbound side of the freeway, Greengard added, and later the CHP closed the No. 4 lane for about 30 minutes while the other lanes remained open.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the California Highway Patrol’s Newhall Area office at 661-294-5540.
