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Man in ICU after road rage beating on I-Drive

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Investigators said a simple horn honk sparked a violent road rage incident Thursday between two drivers at the crowded Premium Outlets on International Drive.

According to police, a fight broke out between the two drivers, and one was beaten so bad he's still recovering in the neuro intensive care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Police said incident began when the suspect stopped his car in the middle of I-drive and the victim honked his horn.

When the two drivers got to a red light, they each got out of their cars and confronted one another. Police said they believe the attacker then used a blunt object to beat the victim.

Doug Willoughby told Channel 9 he saw the entire attack go down.

"He had bleeding from his ear at the time," said Willoughby. "And when he hit the pavement, he had blood at his head at the back, too."

Willoughby said the attack was violent and the victim hit the ground hard.

"It looked like a basketball when he hit," said Willoughby. "He bounced, boom, and back up. And then he laid back down and then he wasn't moving."

Witnesses said the victim blacked out briefly and needed help staying on his feet.

The attacker jumped into a silver or gray Honda Civic and fled the scene, witnesses said. Authorities have not yet identified him.