Road rage puts many in jeopardy

NEWTOWN, Pa. - February 6, 2008 In reconstructing the incident, police allege 29-year-old John Carrothers and his 8-year-old son were traveling along I-95.

A couple tells police the Jeep belonging to the suspect was traveling erratically. It exited at Newtown taking a series of local roads according to Upper Makefield chief Mark Schmidt.

The couple flashed their lights and dialed 911, reporting a possible drunk driver.

Suddenly, the Jeep made a u-turn, doubling back and following the couple.

The couple says the tailgating Jeep was flashing its high beams. They tried to shake him, but its alleged Carrothers leapt from his vehicle and confronted the victims.

"The motion is indicated that he has a gun. The suspect reaches in. The victim driver yells to his wife to get down, and in turn he floors it and leaves going Southbound, at which point he hears a pop and a bullet enters what would be the left rear tire," Chief Schmidt said.

Police arrested Carrothers at his mother's Newtown home and charged him with aggravated assault and endangering his own little boy.

"The 8-year-old son of the suspect was in the vehicle and, of course, we take that very serious that if an individual is going to fire a weapon at somebody over a road rage incident, what is the mindset of the individual in having a child in the vehicle," Chief Schmidt said.

Carrothers' next day in court is scheduled for next week.