Brighton Man Arraigned in Road Rage Case

A Brighton man faces multiple charges after state police say he repeatedly drove his vehicle into a SUV with a woman and seven children inside at a freeway bridge construction site in a case of road rage.

Steven J. Blaser, 26, was arraigned by video from the Livingston County Jail on Wednesday afternoon before a magistrate in Brighton District Court. He is charged with five felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property between $1,000 and $20,000 and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.

Blaser — who told the court he has been under a doctor's care the last couple of weeks for rage issues — remains in custody after failing to post $100,000 cash or surety bond at his arraignment. Blaser, who plans to retain his own legal counsel, is now scheduled for an exam conference Aug. 9 before District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader.

Prosecutors sought the high bond because Blaser has a prior record that includes eight accidents, seven speeding tickets, one for failure to stop and identify himself after an accident, assault and battery and animal abandonment, according an article Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and coverage from WDIV-TV in Detroit.

If he posts bond, the conditions specified are that he may not drive under any circumstances nor have any contact with the victims, must continue his advocacy program of behavioral treatment, adhere to the medical recommendations from his therapist and sign a release of his medical records to the court.

In Monday's incident, the SUV driver — a 34-year-old Pinckney woman — told state police a Ford Escort was traveling erratically on northbound Old U.S. 23 when the driver cut off another vehicle and started tailgating her.

She turned east onto Spencer Road, where the man apparently became upset with the snail's pace of traffic on the bridge under construction over U.S. 23 in Brighton Township.

The two vehicles stopped at the light controlling the single lane going over the bridge. After it turned green the man attempted to pass the woman but was unable to. He then hit her vehicle so hard she had to brake to avoid striking the vehicle in front of her.

The woman locked her car doors for the safety of the seven children inside, who range in age from 2 to 15.

Troopers say the man got out of his car, pounded on the driver's side window and ripped off the outside mirror. He then left on foot, leaving his car in the road. He was later captured while running through some nearby woods by Brighton police, who were assisting state police.