A man has been charged after 7NEWS reported that a work van was rammed during an alleged road rage incident. According to 7NEWS, carpet cleaner Matthew Walshaw was driving the van when a white sedan began following him closely. A later 7NEWS Queensland reel reported that the man, identified only as Greg, had been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The incident was captured on video as the sedan followed the work van along the highway. 7NEWS reported that the sedan tailgated the van and pushed it into the emergency lane. Walshaw told the outlet he was trying to get away from the other driver.
The driver then made a call that helped police follow up on the case. Walshaw’s business phone number was printed on the side of the van, and the other driver allegedly used it after the incident. In the voicemail, the caller complained about Walshaw’s turn signal, leaving behind a number connected to the call.
Walshaw said he still doesn’t know what started the encounter. He said the sedan stayed close behind him, went around the van, moved back in front of him, and then hit the brakes. In a later update, 7NEWS Queensland reported that a man identified only as Greg had been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and was due to face court.
How Matthew Walshaw Tried to Get Clear of the Sedan
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Walshaw was driving his work van on the M1 when the sedan came up behind him. He said the car stayed so close that he started trying to get away from it. Video from the incident showed the sedan behind the van as other traffic continued along the highway.
Walshaw said he moved into the emergency lane to get clear. The sedan followed him there, and the van was rammed during the incident. Walshaw said he was focused on getting away from the driver and avoiding anything worse.
How Police Were Able to Follow Up on the Call
The van was marked with Walshaw’s business details, including the phone number the other driver allegedly called after the incident. The voicemail was abusive and centered on a complaint that Walshaw had failed to indicate. However, it also gave police a phone number tied to the person who made the call.
7NEWS Queensland later reported that Greg had been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. However, the reel did not give his full name or say whether he was facing any other charges. It also didn’t report whether anyone was injured.