A Westmoreland County man is facing charges after allegedly stabbing a driver in a road rage incident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
It began when police reported that the victim was entering the Turnpike at the Pittsburgh interchange. According to police records, the victim was traveling home from work and entered the Turnpike “in front of the defendant’s vehicle.”
Police claim the defendant, Robert Palscak, began driving aggressively behind the victim’s car for “about ten miles between the Pittsburgh Interchange and the Irwin Interchange.”
Both drivers subsequently exited the Turnpike in Irwin, where the victim said that they were both stopped in traffic at the top of the State Route 30 eastbound off-ramp, according to police records.
According to police, Palscak came out of his car with a knife in his hand. According to police reports, the victim seized a baseball bat and exited the vehicle.According to authorities, the victim claimed that the defendant hit him in the face before stabbing him with a knife.Doesn’t surprise me, because I believe that the current situation has made people quite angry,” Irwin resident Amy Fensch said.
According to KDKA-TV, Pennsylvania State Police advise drivers to keep a safe distance, monitor their speed, and utilize their turn signals as the weather improves.”I just wish people could be happy and not tailgate others,” Fensch remarked.
Police did not release any details about the victim’s condition. According to police reports, the victim was stabbed in the left ear, near his cheekbone. Palscak now faces accusations for both aggravated and simple assault.