LEESBURG, Fla. — An argument about driving Monday resulted in one man being sent to the hospital after he was run over by another driver, investigators said.
Deputies said road-rage incidents happen, but don't tend to get as violent as this. Troopers said incidents are up, but they have no stat to point to to show that.
Officials said 911 calls poured in after Christopher Detwieler was hit by a driver around 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of 441 and County Road 473 in Leesburg.
Deputies learned the hit-and-run was the result of a road rage incident. Deputies said the two drivers were arguing with each other while driving down 473.
"One vehicle tried to pass the other vehicle. The vehicle sped up and cut him off," Fred Jones of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.
Jones said Detwieler got out of his car to confront the other driver, and accused him of putting his fiance and baby, who were in the car, in danger.
Deputies said Detwieler stepped in front of the other driver's car and threatened to call police, but the driver ran him over and kept going.
Witnesses said the hit-and-run driver was a white male driving a black passenger car, possibly a Mazda, with a red passenger door.
"It's very unique. (Hopefully) someone can identify this and we can make contact with this person and get their side of the story as well," Jones said.
Detwieler was airlifted to Orlando Health with serious injuries, but he's expected to be discharged Tuesday.
Deputies said drivers should never confront anyone during a road-rage incident.