Motorist attacks man riding bicycle

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Lafayette Police are asking for your help to find the motorist responsible for beating a man who was riding his bicycle.

73-year-old William Thomas was riding his bicycle when a man got out of his car and attacked him at 9th and Central in Lafayette.

Luckily for Thomas, two bicyclists saw the attack and with the help of a third person were able to scare off the attacker.

Lafayette Police Officer Gregory McDaniel responded to the call around 5:30 p.m. Friday and said he's never seen a case of road rage quite like this.

"I would say in the 14 years that I've worked this is the first time I've ever seen something this aggressive in nature," McDaniel said. "It's not uncommon to have road rage incidents. I probably personally deal with one every one to two months but nothing to the extent of this brutality."

McDaniel said the suspect described as a white male fled the scene before witnesses were able to get a better look. However, McDaniel said they were able to give a description of his car.

"He was driving an older car. Possibly a Lincoln town car. Light green in color. Possibly metallic green. Heavy damage along the passenger side," McDaniel said.

McDaniel said Thomas had cuts on his face and was treated on scene by medics who decided immediate transportation to the hospital wasn't necessary.

McDaniel said Thomas later drove himself to the hospital for further treatment.

A cyclist himself, McDaniel said riding in town can be a challenge.

"Within the city, you certainly have a different set of circumstances. You have to be a lot more defensive, a lot more aware of your surroundings and a lot of times cars don't want to share the road. Although, technically, by law, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and we are allowed to share the road and have all the same rights as a vehicle but a lot of motorists don't agree with that," McDaniel said.

Thomas told NewsChannel 18 he is feeling better after the incident.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call Lafayette Police or the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78CRIME.