Hickory woman pepper-sprayed after telling driver 'have a blessed day'

HICKORY, N.C. — Police in Hickory are searching for a driver who, they said, pepper-sprayed another driver while she was behind the wheel.

The case of road rage happened Thursday morning along South Center Street near the intersection of Highway 70.

Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty spoke with the victim about what led to the attack.

The driver, who asked not to be identified, said she was heading to work when she drove around another vehicle along Highway 70. When she stopped at the next intersection, she told Channel 9 a woman in a dark-colored sedan pulled up and started screaming and cursing at her.

The victim told Faherty that the only thing she said to the woman was, "Have a blessed day."

That's when the other driver leaned over and sprayed mace at her. After being sprayed, she pulled over in a parking lot and called for help.

Faherty watched as Catawba County EMS treated the woman for about 30 minutes, pouring water over her eyes.

"I thought she had lost her mind,” the victim said. “I told her to have a blessed day and she sprays me. Other people, there's no telling what other people will do these days."

Several officers searched along Highway 70 for the sedan but have not found the other driver.

Police could look at surveillance cameras near the intersection where the attack happened.

No arrests have been made.

Officers said the best advice is not to engage an angry driver and don't pull over.

"If somebody started cussing at you on the roadway, be honest, would you cuss back?” motorist Dexter Maddox said. “Yes, I would. Yes, I would. (I) sure would but you know you shouldn't. Yes, I know I shouldn't."

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