Father and son arrested after road rage incident directed at truck driver who honked his horn
A road rage incident in which shots were fired resulted in a father and son being arrested in southeastern Kentucky Friday afternoon.
Laurel County Deputy Sheriff Nate Bishop was investigating an unrelated crash about 10 miles south of London when he said he heard yelling at about 3:20 p.m. and “ran toward the commotion,” according to a news release from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Two vehicles were stopped in front of a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Adams Road and Ky. 770. Bishop said Jacob Harness, the driver of the vehicle directly in front of the semi, got out and ran back toward the tractor-trailer, as its driver got out.
Harness, 26, grabbed the truck driver by the shirt and threw him to the ground, according to the release.
At about the same time, the deputy said he saw James Harness, 53, get out of another vehicle, which was stopped at the intersection in front of Jacob Harness’ vehicle and the tractor-trailer. Bishop said James Harness, who is Jacob Harness’ father, got a pistol from his trunk and ran toward the altercation taking place between his son and the trucker.
James Harness “fired numerous shots” before being taken into custody by Bishop, who disarmed him with voice commands, according to the sheriff’s office.
The truck driver was not thought to be seriously injured. Bishop said he heard the truck driver honk his horn once before the confrontation.
James Harness and Jacob Harness were taken to the Laurel County Correctional Center.
James Harness, of Sardinia, Ohio, was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and second-degree disorderly conduct. Jacob Harness, of Cincinnati, was charged with fourth-degree assault.
