Australind police ask for help in identifying unknown man involved in alleged road rage incident

Police are looking for a man after a road rage incident in the South West where a woman was dragged from her car and had her phone smashed.

It is suspected the attack was over the woman driving too slowly while overtaking a truck.

Police have called for the public’s help in identifying an unknown man who was photographed by the woman at the time of the incident in Binningup last month.

Sgt Grant Earnshaw from Australind police said that about 11am on December 14, a 50-year-old Binningup woman was driving her grey Toyota Prado southbound on Forrest Highway near the Binningup Road intersection about 30km north of Bunbury.

“She has overtaken a truck and the (man) was right behind her,” he said.

Police allege the man, who is unknown to the woman, pulled his white Mitsubishi ute in front of her vehicle and caused her to stop.

The man then exited his vehicle and began verbally abusing the woman before opening the door of her car and pulling her out of the vehicle.

He then grabbed her mobile phone and smashed it on the ground before leaving the scene.

Sgt Earnshaw said passers by stopped and helped the woman following the alleged incident, which left her with bruising and scratches.

“She was really distressed and really upset . . . because it was just out of the blue,” he said.

Police suspect the man might have been upset with the woman for driving too slow while overtaking the truck.

Sgt Earnshaw said people have come forward with who they suspect the man could be, but none had led to a successful identification.

He urged anyone who sees the man in public not to approach him.

“He probably knows we’re looking for him, so just call the police and say ‘the person that was on the news or on a social media post is here, can you come get him’,” Sgt Earnshaw said.

Police are hoping a photo taken by the woman before she was pulled out of the vehicle will help identify the man, who has a distinctive tattoo on his right forearm.

Those who believe they know the identity of the man, or have dash-cam or mobile phone vision of the incident, are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperswa.com.au.

Reports can be made anonymously.