A Rochester man is facing felony charges for allegedly ramming another vehicle multiple times on Interstate 5 in Centralia in July.
Jeremie Kyle Countryman, 52, of Rochester, is accused of ramming another vehicle with his Mini Cooper between eight and 12 times from behind while going 60 to 65 mph on Interstate 5 in Centralia on July 24.
The other driver, who described the event as a “road rage incident,” said the Mini Cooper began ramming his vehicle about 15 to 20 minutes before both vehicles exited I-5 at Exit 82.
Court documents do not indicate which direction the vehicles were driving before they arrived at Exit 82.
The other driver reportedly told investigators he “thought he had perhaps used the left lane on Interstate 5 too much, which angered the driver in the dark-colored Mini Cooper, who then followed (the other driver) closely, flashing his emergency lights and maneuvering in front of them and brake checking them,” according to court documents.
The passenger in the victim’s vehicle “managed to take very clear videos and photos of the suspect’s vehicle, plate number, and the suspect himself,” which helped investigators identify Countryman as the suspect, according to court documents. The passenger reportedly stopped videoing in order to call 911 after the vehicle was rammed the first time.
When the vehicles got off I-5, Countryman allegedly got out of the Mini Cooper, “threw something at (the other driver’s) vehicle, and then got back in his vehicle and started ramming them again,” according to court documents. While stopped at a stop light off of Exit 82 at Harrison Street, Countryman allegedly “maneuvered behind (the victim’s) car, and nudged (the) vehicle out into the intersection in front of traffic,” according to court documents. A Department of Transportation truck approaching through a green light reportedly had to slow down to avoid T-boning the victim’s vehicle. A Department of Transportation camera positioned at a stop light off of Exit 82 at Harrison Street reportedly captured that incident.
Countryman allegedly fled the scene after that crash at the stop light.
He was charged in Lewis County Superior Court on Oct. 13 with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of hit-and-run to an attended vehicle. On Oct. 17, Countryman was issued a summons notice for a Nov. 7 preliminary hearing, which he was present for.
Due to the state’s criminal safety concerns and a reckless driving conviction on Countryman’s record that Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson called “a remarkably similar incident,” Jackson asked for Countryman to be arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on $20,000 bail.
“I understand the severity of the allegations (and) I know Mr. Countryman takes this very seriously as well,” defense attorney Rachael Tiller said during Countryman’s preliminary hearing on Tuesday. She added that he is medically unable to drive and now relies on others for transportation.
Because Countryman appeared in court when issued a summons notice and because he isn’t driving, a fact Lawler said “alleviates a lot of my community safety concerns,” Lawler allowed Countryman to remain out of custody on $20,000 unsecured bail.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16 .
