Elderly man dies after road rage
A man has died after a suspected road rage outburst following a minor crash in a car park at Burwood in Melbourne’s east.
Emergency services were called to the VicRoads car park about 9:30am (AEDT) after a man was found collapsed following an altercation with another driver.
The pair had been involved in a minor car crash in the car park, police said.
The two drivers, aged 72 and 40, had pulled over when the older man allegedly became aggressive.
The 40-year-old told police he pushed the older man in the chest and went into a nearby building.
When he came back outside, the 72-year-old was on the ground.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Brendon Pollock said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
“A very minor physical and verbal altercation has occurred in the car park and shortly thereafter the man was located on the ground deceased,” he said.
“We’re not exactly 100 per cent certain what has caused his death at this point in time.”
A 72yo man has died following a road rage incident in VicRoads carpark Burwood East. 40yo man assisting police pic.twitter.com/TVoYZgWbST
— Yvette Gray (@yvettegray3AW) January 27, 2015
Paramedics said the driver had a cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
Senior Constable Pollock said the younger driver was shaken up by the incident and was cooperating with police.
He said the incident was a timely reminder for motorists to remain calm.
“A minor traffic altercation can unfortunately result in these matters and it’s not as a result of an assault it can just be built up and being angry,” he said.
Witness Brent Caruana said it appeared as though the men were exchanging words as they tried to swap details.
“I don’t think the old bloke really wanted to agree and pass over insurance details … the young bloke called him pathetic and the next thing you know there’s an argument,” he said.
Police have appealed for anyone who saw the incident to contact them.