A 46-year-old Pottsville man has been charged in a Route 61 road rage incident in which he allegedly waved an ax at another motorist, according to police.
State police charged Salvatore A. Mazza, who on Dec. 27 followed a woman on Route 61 north of Saint Clair and began waving an ax at her, according to police. The defendant followed her to Frackville, where he got out of his vehicle at a red light and walked toward her with the ax in his hand, police said.
Mazza faces misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment for his interactions with the woman, who is a relative of his girlfriend, according to police.
Police said the defendant, who was in a white Kia SUV, started tailgating the other driver just north of Saint Clair. The driver said she slowed down to 35 mph because she did not want to feel rushed, and she said the defendant waved the ax out of his window at her the entire way up the Frackville Grade.
At some point, the defendant passed the victim, but she ended up being in front of him again driving through Frackville, police said.
At a red light at North Lehigh Avenue and Spring Street, Mazza stopped behind her vehicle, got out and walked toward her car holding the ax in the air. The victim said that she ran the red light and found a safe location to stop and contact police.
The victim described the suspect as a male about 6 feet tall with a “chunky build.” She told police there was a female in his vehicle, but could not provide a description besides blonde hair.
Police received an anonymous tip identifying the suspect as Salvatore Mazza, of Laurel Terrace Apartments.
Police later made contact with the owner of the white Kia, who was the mother of the defendant’s girlfriend. She revealed that the victim in the incident was her sister, according to police. She said she had given Mazza permission to drive the Kia.
Police spoke again to the victim, who confirmed that her niece, Mazza’s girlfriend, was the passenger in his vehicle. The victim said that shortly after the incident, she went to a family get-together at which Mazza was also present. She said he attempted to apologize to her about the incident.
Police filed charges against the defendant on Feb. 17 through Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli in Frackville.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 11 in Tarantelli’s office.