Burnaby RCMP are looking for the public's help in tracking down the driver of a silver Toyota Echo who allegedly assaulted an elderly man in a road rage incident Sunday night.
According to police, at around 8: 30 p.m., an elderly couple were driving east on Lougheed Hwy. when the driver of a silver Echo began honking his horn and tailgating them in their beige sedan. The suspect then followed the couple when they turned onto Gilmore Avenue - still honking his horn and tailgating.
The driver of the sedan then pulled off to the side of the road south of Dawson Street. The suspect in the silver Echo pulled in behind him, got out of his vehicle, walked over to the sedan and, when the driver of the sedan rolled down his window, punched him in the face several times before fleeing in his vehicle.
Witnesses called the police and ambulance, and the driver of the sedan was treated at a local hospital and released later that night.
"I can't imagine what he would have done to justify being punched in the face multiple times," said Staff Sgt. Steve Crawford of the Burnaby RCMP. "The suspect driver was obviously upset about something."
What that something was remains a mystery to both police and the driver of the sedan. Crawford said it could be something as minor as the driver of the sedan running a light in front of the driver of the silver Echo.
"Although this was a relatively minor assault, due to the circumstances we are taking it very seriously," said Cpl. Rick Skolrood, in a press release. "Burnaby is a relatively safe city, and people need to know that this behaviour is completely unacceptable. We are thoroughly investigating this attack, but we need help from the public to identify the assailant."
The suspect is described as Caucasian with grey hair and a slim build. Police report he is between 5'-6" and 5'-7", 40 to 50 years old and 140 to 150 pounds.
He was driving a silver Toyota Echo, and police say the "first two digits of the license may be 02."
Anyone with information on this attack or the suspect is asked to contact the Burnaby RCMP at 604-294-7922 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
