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A man in a black Jeep Cherokee reportedly fired several gunshots into another vehicle after a road-rage incident Wednesday morning on Interstate 5 north of Centralia.
The shooter then chased the victim’s vehicle more than 10 miles south, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Washington State Patrol is searching for the suspect, who disappeared between milepost 80 and Exit 77 of southbound I-5 after the incident, said Trooper Will Finn.
At 11:04 a.m., a 25-year-old Spanaway man called 911 to report that another man was firing a gun at him on southbound I-5.
The altercation reportedly began at milepost 93 near the Scatter Creek rest area.
The 25-year-old victim, whose name is not being released by the State Patrol, was heading to Chehalis on southbound I-5 traveling in the fast lane. He reportedly came up behind a black 2005 to 2010 model Jeep Grand Cherokee, which brake-checked him.
The Spanaway man sped around the Cherokee and brake-checked the SUV in return.
The man then looked in his rearview mirror and saw that the driver of the Cherokee, described as a white male age 60 to 70 with a white beard, was holding a gun out the side of the driver’s window.
The man reportedly fired two shots, which went through the back window of the victim’s vehicle and out the windshield, according to the State Patrol.
The victim sped away, traveling at speeds of 85 to 90 mph in an attempt to get away from the driver of the Cherokee, who pursued him until at least milepost 80, where the victim lost sight of him.
The victim exited at milepost 77. Troopers and other law enforcement officers attempted to catch up with the driver of the Cherokee south of that point on I-5, but did not find the vehicle.
Troopers have not found the driver as of this afternoon, but are continuing to investigate the event.
The Cherokee also had a passenger, described as a white female aged 70 to 80 with an oxygen tank.
The Jeep had Washington license plates, according to the State Patrol.
The State Patrol is asking witnesses to call (360) 449-7999 with any information.
Finn urged drivers to call 911 if they experience road rage.
“If you do find yourselves in a situation like this or you feel there might be an escalation with another motorist, just disengage, get off the freeway … and give us a call,” he said.
