Shirley man accused of punching driver in road rage incident
Suffolk police say Michael Nelson punched a driver on William Floyd Parkway near Sunrise Highway.
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Police arrested a Shirley man Friday after they say he was involved in a road rage confrontation that turned physical on William Floyd Parkway.
According to Suffolk County police, 41-year-old Michael Nelson punched another driver during an incident near Sunrise Highway around 3 p.m.
Suffolk sheriff's deputies, who were already in the area for an unrelated event, intervened and helped get the situation under control until Suffolk police arrived.
The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Nelson was charged with harassment, issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
The incident raised concerns among local drivers, who say aggressive driving has become increasingly common along the busy stretch of roadway.
"That's horrible. It shouldn't be happening," said Shirley resident Catherine Seeman.
Seeman said she worries about the dangers of road rage, especially with her daughter now driving.
"I'm scared. I'm really scared. I have a daughter that is driving. I don't want her to get hurt," she said.
Another Shirley resident, Stephanie Gordon, said drivers need to be more patient.
"I think people need to relax and take a huge chill pill," Gordon said.
She described William Floyd Parkway as a roadway where aggressive driving is common.
"Lot of honking, lot of beeping. People don't have the patience for others to go at a green light. People are just impatient around here," she said.
The arrest comes two months after another violent road rage incident in the area. In May, police said one driver stabbed another driver in the neck during a confrontation at the corner of Ditmas Avenue and Riviera Drive in Mastic.
"It makes me want to move back to the city. Coming from the city, there is more nonsense out here than out there," said Shirley resident Sal Governale. "I feel it is going to get worse because of summer and traffic."
According to AAA, aggressive driving continues to be a widespread problem nationwide. Research cited by the organization found that 92% of drivers admit to engaging in at least one aggressive driving behavior, while 11% admit to violent actions, such as intentionally bumping another vehicle.
