YouTube video helps police solve Colorado Springs road rage incident
Colorado Springs police said a Monday night incident is the first time they’ve seen a hit-and-run accident recorded in progress and it helped them solve the case.
Officers said they were called to the 5800 block of North Nevada Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Monday.
Police said the incident was recorded by a pizza deliveryman who apparently used a dashboard camera or similar device, and later posted the video on the website YouTube.
“Officers became aware of the YouTube video,” said Sgt. Joel Kern. “They obviously were able to correlate the information that was presented to them, and ultimately they were able to contact the drivers of both vehicles.”
The video shows a moving confrontation between a motorcycle rider and a car driver, in which both appeared to be arguing while traveling parallel at close range.
At one point, the car swerved into the motorcycle, causing a crash and knocking the rider into the street. The rider did not appear to be seriously injured.
A viewer who posted on the KRDO comment section said the driver had nearly hit the rider’s girlfriend just before the incident — a claim that wasn’t confirmed by police.
“The police report isn’t official yet, so it’s unavailable,” Kern said.
Brian Candelaria, 21, was arrested on suspicion of a felony charge of second-degree assault. Skyler Bradley, 22, rode the motorcycle and faces a charge of harassment.
Police said they don’t believe the video was staged, and several people who saw the video agree.
“I don’t think that it was made intentionally because he really knocked him off that bike, you know?” Jacqueline Wilson said.
Bethlea Muhammad blames the motorcycle rider even though he faces a lesser charge.
“The driver of that (car) was afraid for himself because the guy on the motorcycle was intimidating him already, had been following him through that drive,” she said. “So he’s probably trying to protect himself and get away from it.”
Police are using the case to remind people to call police and not take matters into their own hands.
Watch the altercation on YouTube here:
