Man hit with sledgehammer in road rage confrontation

A case of road rage turned physical when one driver hit another with a sledgehammer during an angry roadside exchange in Renton.

 The state patrol said the problems began at 6:38 a.m. on Tuesday, on southbound State Route 167 near Interstate 405, when the driver of a minivan made a lane change that the driver of a Nissan said forced him off the road.

Police said that after a few moments of travel, the Nissan driver moved in front of the minivan and slammed on the brakes. 

Both vehicles moved onto the shoulder and the drivers began an argument that ended when the Nissan driver was hit on the shoulder with a small sledgehammer.

Troopers who were called to the scene contacted the driver of the Nissan, a 33-year-old Renton man, who was rubbing his left shoulder and said he had been hit by the driver of a minivan.  The driver of the GMC minivan, a Bothell man, said he hit the Nissan driver with a small sledgehammer because he refused to move out of his van doorway.

The driver of the minivan was booked into King County Jail and may be charged with assault.  The Nissan driver was cited for negligent driving for his part in the road rage, police said.