A road rage incident erupted when two local drivers battled for a parking spot at Fry’s Marketplace on John Wayne Parkway in a video posted on social media yesterday. 

Facebook user Blessie Sheaffer took to the “Maricopa AZ 85138” page and shared a minute-long video of the incident at the local grocery store. 

The video shows two drivers, one in a Cadillac SUV and the other in a Kia sedan, arguing over a spot near the store’s entrance. The drivers caused a commotion and nearly an accident. 

One woman parks her car in the roadway and gets out, yelling, “You’re going the wrong way,” before getting back in her Cadillac. Both vehicles kept inching into the spot, before the Kia eventually parked. 

The Cadillac driver is then seen blocking the sedan from leaving the parking space. 

As of this afternoon, the video appears to have been removed from Facebook. Maricopa Police Department did not immediately respond to questions about the incident. 

ITS AN ARIZONA THING 

Last year, Forbes ranked Arizona as the state with the most confrontational drivers, with 4 in 5 drivers reporting that they had been yelled at, insulted or threatened while driving in the state.  

About half of all Arizona respondents said they’ve been cut off on purpose and blocked from changing lanes. One in 5 reported being forced off the road. 

About one-third of respondents said another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or try to fight with them.   

The American Automobile Association told InMaricopa there are a few behaviors that seem to enrage other drivers, including cutting someone off, driving slowly in the left lane, tailgating and obscene gestures. AAA noted most road rage incidents go unreported.   

AAA said there are a few things drivers can do to help prevent road rage.  

  • Don’t offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.  
  • Be tolerant and forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.  
  • Do not react: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 9-1-1 if needed. 

Watch the video below: 

Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian became part of the InMaricopa team in October 2020, starting as a multimedia intern with a focus on various multimedia tasks. His responsibilities included file organization and capturing photos of events and incidents. After graduating from Maricopa High School in the class of 2021, his internship seamlessly transitioned into a full-fledged job. Initially serving as a dedicated photographer, Brian's role evolved in October 2021 when he took on a new beat as a writer. He is currently pursuing his studies at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Brian's primary focus lies in covering public safety-related stories. In his free time, Brian finds joy in spending quality time with his family and embarking on adventures to explore the landscapes around him.
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