The Olympian

Man in jail following road rage incident near Centralia

The Olympian | • Published August 06, 2007

A Puyallup man was booked into the Lewis County Jail for driving recklessly following an altercation with another driver on northbound Interstate 5 near Centralia Sunday, a State Patrol news release said today.

Joseph D. Britt, 21, and a second driver exited their vehicles on northbound I-5 at milepost 80 around 5:45 p.m. and got into an argument after Britt reportedly tried to pass the second vehicle as it was attempting a lane change. Britt then pulled in front of the vehicle and stopped on the roadway. At one point during the altercation, the second driver walked back to his vehicle as Britt followed. The driver reportedly removed a pistol from his truck but did not point it at anyone.

Britt then tried to use his vehicle to block both lanes as the second driver went around to a different exit where both men were met by law enforcement.

Britt is being referred for assault charges. The second driver is also being referred for displaying a gun for intimidation and possessing a concealed weapon without a permit.