CLERMONT, Florida—A Wildwood man was arrested for aggravated battery after purposely causing a collision during an apparent road rage incident earlier this month while he was driving a tractor-trailer for his job, according to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest report.
FHP responded to a crash shortly after 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9 on U.S. 27 near Scholfield Road and found that a collision occurred between Christopher Terrence Brooks, 46, who was driving a Peterbilt tractor-trailer and another man, who was driving a Ford F150. The man told troopers he and Brooks were in their respective vehicles driving northbound on U.S. Highway 27 for a few miles. The man became aggravated Brooks was traveling in the inside through lane below the speed limit, so he passed Brooks and gave him “the bird” as he passed, according to the affidavit.
The man later changed lanes and Brooks attempted to pass him. As Brooks passed, the trailer portion of the tractor-trailer Brooks was driving came into his lane and struck the man’s Ford F150.
Brooks told FHP a similar story until the collision. Brooks said the F150 was “brake checking” him to prevent him from passing and then came into his lane and he “lightly jerked” the steering wheel to avoid a collision, the affidavit states. Brooks said the entire incident was captured on his dashcam and the trooper informed Brooks he would be getting the dashcam footage. The trooper also questioned the driver of the F150 about Brooks’ accusations of “brake checking” and preventing him from passing. The F150 driver denied Brooks’ claims.
At a later date, Brooks’ employer provided FHP with the video footage and the trooper found both drivers lied, he noted in the affidavit. The driver of the F150 prevented Brooks from passing on multiple occasions and “brake checked” Brooks to the point he almost rear-ended the F150. The F150 then changed lanes and Brooks accelerated and swerved into the F150 as he passed. A second video from the cab of Brooks’ vehicle shows Brooks accelerate past the F150 and sharply jerk the wheel, causing the tractor-trailer to collide with the F150.
Brooks turned himself in Sunday and was released from the Lake County Jail on $2,000 bond.
