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ATLANTA - An Atlanta woman said she would not accept the terrifying situation of road rage turning violent against her. She fought back against the other driver and hopes other women can learn to protect themselves like she did.
Robyn Ware said a man was driving erratically, threatening her and even threw a bottle at her car. When the man approached her window, that’s when she pulled out the pepper spray.
“My heart was going so fast; I was, you know, I was ready to fight,” said Ware.
It started as Ware was driving north on Peachtree Street at 15th Street in Midtown. She said a white Chevy sedan pulled up close behind her. She tapped the brakes to signal the driver to slow down, but instead, Ware said he grew angry.
When they stopped at a red light near the High Museum, the other driver got out and Ware said he started to curse at her.
“I was just shocked. I thought what's he gonna do? Break my window?” Ware said.
He didn’t break the window, but Ware said he did throw his soda bottle at her car when the light turned green and continued to follow her. When they hit another red light, Ware said she was prepared with pepper spray.
“It took me a second [be]cause I’ve never used this. I've had it on my keychain. I've had it 6 or 7 years,” said Ware.
She said although the man was disoriented for a minute, even the pepper spray did not stop him. He followed her another mile until she said she saw an officer on the street and called to him.
“He was obviously stalking me and trying to follow me so he could attack, I guess,” said Ware.
Ware eventually came across an off-duty Atlanta Police officer working a part-time job. She said he called in the case, but Ware said no one could chase after the man.
“He [the officer] immediately gave a broadcast lookout on the subject, but there just weren't units in the area that could respond,” Atlanta Police Sgt. Warren Pickard said. “She didn't indicate the subject had a weapon, that her life was in danger. That would have made the difference.”
Atlanta police said when an officer is off-duty they don't have the same resources as on-duty officers have to help.
Police said anyone in a similar situation should pull off to the side of the road or into a police prescient.
Ware said she is grateful she had the self-defense training to help herself and hopes more women take classes.