We see and sometimes do it all the time--Someone upsets us while driving and we give them the finger and drive off.
But the story didn’t end there for 39 year-old Alicia Meitzler and 62 year-old Peter Venditto.
Meitzler was driving south on Route 309 in South Whitehall Township Monday morning when Venditto, who was driving a pick-up truck in front of her, suddenly hit his brakes. She went around the truck and flipped Venditto the bird.
The two drivers were now on Interstate 78 near Dorney Park. That’s when Venditto began chasing and tailgating Meitzler.
''I don't understand why he was so, so, so angry,'' she said. ''I obviously wasn't right for flipping him the bird, but that's all I did'' Meitzler told the Morning Call.
Hoping to lose him, she planned to get off Interstate 78 at Cedar Crest Boulevard--That’s when Venditto’s road rage turned deadly.
Meitzler was forced to brake because of traffic that was stopping in front of her. Venditto clipped her car and lost control of his 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck. It flipped over into a ditch along the highway, according to police.
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Venditto was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest shortly after.
The Lehigh Coroner’s office ruled his death an accident. Venditto’s cause of death was blunt-force head trauma.
Police told Meitzler the accident was not her fault because ''flipping the bird'' wasn't a reason for Venditto to chase her, according to the Morning Call.
Meitzler's black 2006 Volkswagen Jetta had only minor damage.
State Police would like to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the accident or the events leading up to it. Please call 610-395-1438 if you have any information.
