Crime & Safety

Road Rage Driver Hugs it Out with Victim, Agrees to Anger Management Classes

David Colaizzi, 41, of Independence Township, Beaver County, punched and choked a Coraopolis man in November.

A Beaver County man agreed Tuesday to take anger management classes.

An apologetic  Colaizzi, 41, of Independence Township, Beaver County, hugged Robert Hagen, 56 of Coraopolis, and told him he was sorry about the incident during a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Robert Ford in Leetsdale.

Colaizzi and his attorney, James M. Ecker of Pittsburgh, appeared in court to answer charges from the Nov. 25 incident near the Sewickley Bridge. 

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He faced charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct, reckless driving and harassment. agreed to drop the charges if Colaizzi completes an anger management session within 90 days. Colaizzi also was ordered to pay $525 and court costs, and he said he would pay $120 for Hague's medical bills. 

said Colaizzi became enraged when Hagen refused to let him merge into the right lane to go over the bridge while the two were traveling southbound in separate vehicles on Route 65.

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Police said Colaizzi stopped in front of Hagen’s vehicle, slamming on the breaks between Walnut Street and River Road. Police said he ran up to Hagen, yelled profanities at him, then assaulted Hagen while Hagen's 2-year-old granddaughter was in the  seat. Police said Colaizzi then drove away.


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