Road Rage Incident Leads To Battery Charge For Palm Coast Man

Palm Coast, FL - A road rage incident turns physical and lands a Palm Coast man in jail after he lunged at a motorcyclist who passed him. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) met up with the reporting party—the 21-year-old motorcycle rider—on Thursday (May 20) after the incident had occurred. Deputies noted that the rider had visible signs of redness and bruising on his face after he took off his helmet. The rider told deputies he was traveling on Ponce DeLeon Drive when he accelerated past a Ford F150 pickup truck driven by 69-year-old William Markert. After passing him, the rider said Markert raised his hands and yelled at him as he made gestures for him to slow down. Eventually, the rider parked his motorcycle behind Markert’s pickup truck, which is when the incident occurred. In a video a witness captured, Markert can be seen leaving his truck before it begins to roll away, as he forgot to put it in park. After catching the truck and finally parking it, Markert walked back over towards the motorcyclist in an aggressive manner. As Markert walked towards him, he can be seen pushing the victim three times before the victim punched Markert in self-defense, leading them to fall to the ground in a physical altercation. After watching the video of the encounter, deputies determined that Markert was the primary aggressor. Investigators later met up with Markert, who said he was in an accident with the victim and said it was because of the victim’s speed. He told deputies that the argument did turn physical, but Markert claimed he was attacked first. Markert was subsequently arrested and charged with simple battery. He has since been released on a pre-trial agreement.