WESTFIELD – A West Springfield man was assaulted Tuesday after blowing his horn at a driver who allegedly cut him off in traffic.
Westfield police received a call shortly after noon Tuesday from an employee of the Dunkin’ Donuts, located at 475 Southampton Road, reporting that a man was punching the driver of a vehicle that was in the drive-thru lane.
The two vehicles had been traveling northbound on Southampton Road when the victim beeped his horn at the other driver for cutting him off, according to Westfield Police Capt. Hipolito Nunez.
The victim, along with his wife and their 7- and 9-year-old daughters pulled into the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru. The suspect, who had followed them into the parking lot, then approached the driver’s window and began punching the victim on the head.
The caller told dispatch that the assailant drove away and provided police with his license plate number, according to police records.
The wife, who had tried to stop the assault before taking her girls into Dunkin’ Donuts, suffered minor injuries. Her husband had some lacerations on his face, according to police records.
Nunez said neither party required medical attention.
Police were able to locate the suspect and reach him by phone. He told police that the victim had been swearing at him, so he punched the victim in the head, Nunez said.
In addition to the suspect admitting to the assault, the victim also identified him from the suspect’s RMV photograph.
The suspect, who is from Holyoke, will be charged via criminal complaint, meaning he will be summonsed into court, on charges of misdemeanor assault and battery. Nunez said the case probably won’t show up in Westfield District Court for three to four months.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected].
