Road rage victim frustrated about lack of solutions from Utah lawmakers, law enforcement

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A Utah road rage victim is shedding light on the distressing experience.

As part of our ongoing coverage related stories, and the call for change following a fatal incident in Eagle Mountain, 2News spoke with Joe Cole, who continues to feel anxious while driving after being assaulted behind the wheel earlier this year.

Cole expressed his concern that the current laws in Utah do not provide sufficient protection against road rage.

On Wednesday, he attended a court hearing for the case against the individual he claims attacked him, fearing that without significant changes, other victims will endure similar ordeals.

Back in March, Cole recalls driving home late at night, only a few blocks away from his residence when a disturbing incident unfolded.

According to Cole, the aggressor confronted him, alleging that he had his high beams on. The situation escalated when the other driver approached Cole's vehicle a second time, resulting in a physical altercation.

Cole says as he rolled down his window to understand what was happening, he was completely caught off guard when the man punched him in the face.

The man then took off in his vehicle and Cole followed desperate to get license plate information. During this effort, Cole alleges the driver started swerving in the road and brake checking him, which he says caused him to run into the back of the vehicle and crash. Despite this, he believes that the crash played a crucial role in helping the police locate and identify his attacker.

According to Sandy Police referred charges included a citation for a Class B Simple Assault, and Hit-and-Run. However, during the recent court proceedings, Cole claims the attacker's attorneys attempted to reduce the charges. Dissatisfied with this potential downgrade, Cole argues that disorderly conduct fails to reflect the seriousness of the crime.

Utah currently does not have a specific law addressing road rage, leading Cole to express concern that the problem may worsen without significant changes.

He highlights the need for stricter penalties to discourage potential offenders and ensure justice for victims. Cole poses a question to state leaders, inquiring about the actions being taken to address and resolve this issue.

In Wednesday's court hearing, Cole's wife also attended. She shared that when the judge inquired about his identity, Joe identified himself as the victim and voiced his disagreement with the proposed plea deal. Joe fears that if the charges are ultimately dropped, his assailant may target someone else. The case is ongoing, with no resolution reached as of today