Bluffton Promenade road rage incident caught on camera
Bluffton police are investigating a violent road rage incident in the town's Promenade district last Saturday that was caught on video.
The victim, identified as Kerstin, said Friday she was attacked by two people Sept. 5 who had accused her of speeding, leading to a terse confrontation that quickly turned violent.
Kerstin said the two people confronted her in a parking lot at the Promenade as she walked to a nearby restaurant for work that day, yelling at her for speeding. She said the two -- a man and woman -- pulled up in the parking lot in a Toyota pickup truck and began cursing at her. The pair also accused her of nearly hitting their children with her car.
"I don't really know where they had thought I was speeding," she said. "I guess they meant in the Promenade parking lot."
Kerstin said she apologized and tried to end the situation, but when the irate couple continued to be combative, she correctly pointed out they had driven the wrong way down a one-way street.
That incensed the woman in the vehicle, who got out and smacked Kerstin's coffee into her face.
The woman began hitting Kerstin while the man in the vehicle got out and grabbed her. As Kerstin fought to break free from their grasp, two the forced her to the pavement, where they continued to attack her.
Most of the incident was videotaped from a second-floor window. Video of the incident shows Kerstin, wearing black, being forced to the ground by the pair and struck by the woman. As the couple returns to their truck, the woman throws an object at Kerstin, the video also shows.
The video also shows Kerstin taking photos of the truck, which she turned over to the Bluffton Police Department, along with a copy of the video.
Kerstin suffered a broken fingertip in the exchange, along with a fingernail that was torn off and bruises to her face and neck.
Employees at the restaurant she worked at immediately called Bluffton police, who are investigating the incident.
Bluffton police have identified the couple involved in the incident, and an investigation is ongoing to determine if the two will be charged, Sgt. Kelly Heany said Friday. Anyone who may have witnessed the attack or with more information about it is asked to contact Heany at 843-706-4598.
Given the amount of information and evidence of the attack she was able to turn over, Kerstin said Friday she was frustrated by the lack of progress in her case. She intends to press charges in the incident.
"I just don't understand why there hasn't been an arrest made, why there hasn't been more movement." she said.
She said Friday the incident made it difficult to go into work at the Promenade. The stress caused by the attack has caused her to lose sleep, and she has stayed away from her classes at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
"I'm definitely more nervous after this," she said. "I didn't want to do my job after it."
Follow reporter Matt McNab at twitter.com/IPBG_Matt.
This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Bluffton Promenade road rage incident caught on camera."