A man driving a backhoe on Augusta roads pushed a woman’s car out of his way with the heavy machinery Saturday morning when she didn’t move fast enough at a green light, authorities said.
Robert Stanley, 46, of Evans, was charged with reckless conduct and other traffic charges. He was also served an outstanding warrant for obstruction of a law enforcement officer from a May 2014 incident.
The victim, Calandra Davis, said she was stopped at Wheeler Road and Augusta West Parkway about 10:45 am. Saturday with the suspect behind her in a rented construction loader backhoe (like the kind pictured here).”The victim stated the driver of the backhoe became angry when the light turned green and the victim was slow to proceed through the intersection, at which time the suspect pushed the victim’s vehicle through the intersection” with the backhoe, a sheriff’s report says.The report does not mention how much damage was caused to the woman’s car. But the woman followed Stanley to a construction site, where he jumped into a Silverado. She was able to get a license plate number that led authorities to track him down as he was leaving the Waffle House on Wheeler Road.
Stanley confessed that “he had become frustrated that the vehicle ahead of him was not moving when the light turned green.” According to a sheriff’s report, Stanley pushed Davis’ vehicle through the intersection so he could turn left on to Augusta West Parkway.
Deputies realized Stanley had warrants out of Richmond County for obstruction, three traffic citations and a hold by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. They arrested him for the road rage incident and the outstanding charges. And then he smiled for his mugshot, like he was proud of it.
