NEAH BAY — Road rage may be an understatement for a 31-year-old Neah Bay man accused of ramming a car with his truck on two separate occasions Monday and chasing the same, much smaller vehicle down state Highway 112 after threatening its two occupants with physical and sexual assault.
Martin W. Wright is charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence for the incident that occurred at about 2 p.m. near the Makah reservation.
He remained in Clallam County jail Tuesday.
According to court documents:
Wright allegedly rammed the Volkswagen Beetle driven by Steven Stigler of Port Angeles on purpose while the two vehicles were passing through a construction zone westbound on Highway 112 one mile east of the reservation.
Stigler, 30, along with his passenger Ann Fritts, 35, also of Port Angeles, found Wright shortly afterward parked in a gravel turnout and pulled over near his truck.
Wright confronted Stigler after they both exited their vehicles and began threatening him with physical harm and Fritts with sexual assault.
After they both got back into their vehicles, Wright looked over his shoulder, made eye contact with Stigler and Fritts, and then allegedly reversed his truck half way on top of their car’s hood.
Stigler then made a U-turn and headed eastbound down Highway 112.
Wright gave chase but headed back toward the Makah reservation after he lost sight of Stigler’s car when he got stuck again in the construction zone.
A State Patrol officer and Neah Bay police officer found Wright standing outside of his truck at another turnout on the reservation drinking a 16 ounce Budweiser can with four unopened cans nearby.
After being detained in the State Patrol car, Wright threatened to physically and sexually assault the officers and kicked out the rear window of the patrol car, but did not escape.
