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Suspect Taken Into Custody After Allegedly Swinging Machete During Road Rage Incident In Westchester

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A road rage incident disrupted the morning commute Tuesday in northern Westchester County.

The confrontation happened on I-684 in North Salem. An enraged driver was taken into custody after allegedly punching another man and swinging a machete at him, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.

Police say Roderick J. Davis of Danbury, Conn., was charged with marijuana possession, weapons possession, menacing, disorderly conduct and endangering the life of a child. Authorities also said his 15-year-old son was in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

New York State Police said there were multiple accidents involving at least 10 vehicles on the southbound side of 684. Approaching Exit 8 -- Hardscrabble Road -- a man in a white sedan got into a dispute with the driver of a fuel truck.

North Salem Road Rage Incident
New York State Police say a rage rage incident broke out Nov. 20 around 8 a.m. on an exit ramp off I- 684 the town of North Salem (credit: CBS2)

Witness Kyle Gaedeky told CBS2's Aiello the sedan driver retrieved a machete and threatened him and the truck driver, 35-year-old Kerry Williams. Video shows the suspect swing the machete and hit Gaedeky's vehicle before it hit the ground.

"I was thinking that if I made a gesture towards him in anger, then he's going to swing the machete," Williams said.  As long as I don't make that gesture in anger, I can take the blows from his fist."

Williams says when Davis slammed the machete against his truck, the 18-inch blade broke. Both men then struggle to grab the machete.

"I saw his attention look down towards the blade and that's when the grabbed the handle," Williams said. "I wrestled him down to the ground."

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Police said an off-duty officer who had been stuck in traffic saw what was happening and helped the truck driver subdue the machete-wielding suspect. He was taken to the state police barracks in nearby Somers and was to face a judge Tuesday afternoon.

"I feel blessed that no one was seriously injured," Williams said.

Davis was held on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in North Salem Town Court on Monday, Nov. 26.

Someone was injured during the incident and an ambulance was called, but CBS2 was told no one was transported to the hospital.

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