Charlotte Man Learns First Hand About Road Rage

Chris Helms will spend weeks in this wheelchair after a brush with road rage. He and his kids were on their way to a birthday party when the trip down 485 turned violent.

Helms and his family were heading north on I-485. The trip was going fine until Helms moved from the right lane into the left to let traffic merge in.

"About the time we got over in the left lane, a car came flying up behind us. I would estimate the guy was going 85 or 90 mph," he said.

Helms said things quickly got out of control.

"At that moment he started swerving around and passed me on the left hand side in the median of I-485," he said.

Just when he thought it was over, Helms said the driver came to a complete stop on the interstate, and then pulled to the side of the road. Helms now regrets that he stopped behind him.

"After just a brief exchange of yelling from him, he pushed me back against the car. I guess I knew in mind then, this was not going to be just an exchange of words. It was going to be an altercation, a fight," Helms said. "At that point I stepped in a hole, it broke [my ankle.] I fell to the ground. He was standing there. My wife said, 'I'm on the phone with police' and he jumped in his car and drove off."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Bob Holl said aggressive driving is all too common, especially on the outer belt.

Police said they're watching I-485 more closely, to try to stop road rage before it turns violent.

Holl warns anyone on the receiving end of aggressive driving that the smart thing to do is back off.

"In today's world, you don't know what these people are carrying with them. If they've got some type of firearm, you're going to get hurt. And over what -- A traffic offense," he said. "I just want some form of justice some form of justice to occur."

Helms still has weeks of recovery, but he's learned an important lesson.

"Definitely don't try to take it into your own hands. Don't get out of your car because you don't know what the other guy's intentions are when he's not thinking rationally. He might have some serious problems," said Helms.

Jeff Bernard Austin, 27, faces an assault charge in the incident with Helms. Jeff Austin is out of jail on bond. Eyewitness News tried to talk to him about what happened. His version is that he was attacked, but he did not want to talk on camera about it.

As of December 2004, there's a new charge of aggressive driving on the books. If you're aggressive at speeds over 55, the Department of Motor Vehicles may suspend your license. A simple aggressive driving conviction alone will cost you five points on your license.