Possible road rage leads to hit and run

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Police say a man hit by a vehicle Friday morning in Suffolk was a victim of road rage, and the suspect could face charges for the incident.

Robert Talley told WAVY.com he stopped off the road on Quaker Drive to save a dog's life. Talley added he finds several animals injured in the roadway and always drives slowly.

"I find a lot of hounds out here that have been injured, by cars," Talley said.

Friday morning, he said a woman driving behind him was honking her horn. He continued driving about 45 mph until he turned onto Quaker Drive and saw a dog sleeping in the middle of the road.

According to Talley, he stopped his truck in the road and scooped up the dog. That's when he says the woman and her friend got out of the car, cussed him out and then got back into the car.

"She just takes off and she just kind of hit me in the hip, and I rolled onto her fender and her hood," Talley said.

Talley was uninjured but tells WAVY.com he is worried about future incidents and says he plans to press charges against the driver as a warning.

"Maybe that will make some other people wake up [and realize] that you don't just fly down these rural roads," Talley said.

Debbie George with the City of Suffolk told WAVY.com Tuesday afternoon officers talked to two independent witnesses that could make it tough for Talley to press charges. According to the witnesses, Talley put his hands on the other driver's car as she was trying to leave.

George said the incident is more of a instance of road rage.

Talley says he still intends to press charges despite the witness' claims.