Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- An Eagle Mountain man was arrested for an alleged road rage incident with a cyclist.
- The suspect, Daven Scott Smith, allegedly collided with a bicyclist intentionally.
- Smith was arrested for investigation of aggravated assault and reckless driving.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — An Eagle Mountain man was arrested Wednesday following an alleged road rage confrontation with a bicyclist.
Saratoga Springs police were called Wednesday before 8 a.m. to a crash near Pony Express and Redwood Road involving a vehicle and a bicycle. An officer arrived to find "a bicycle laying on a patch of grass and a male sitting on the curb; the upper left back of his shirt was torn," which the man said was caused by the crash, according to a police booking affidavit.
The cyclist claimed that as he was riding, Daven Scott Smith, 57, drove up next to him in an SUV.
"The victim stated that the two engaged in a confrontation due to his use of the bike lane, and Daven attempted to run him off of the roadway. They both continued eastbound on Pony Express. Daven then turned his vehicle into the victim's bicycle," with the passenger side of the vehicle making "impact with the victim and his bicycle, causing him to crash," the affidavit states.
Smith told police he works for a bike shop and "was attempting to tell the victim to stay in the bike lane because he was in the middle of the roadway," according to the affidavit.
Smith claims the bicyclist became upset and "punched his side mirror, breaking it," according to the affidavit. "Daven stated he continued eastbound and again attempted to tell the victim to stay in the bike lane for his safety; he stated he did not attempt to crash into him."
Witnesses told police they observed the two men engage with each other as they drove and cycled down the road and allegedly saw "Daven intentionally swerve his vehicle into the bike lane, colliding with the victim and his vehicle. The victim sustained injuries to his neck, back and his left leg.
Based on the "information provided by all involved parties, it was determined that the incident was as of a result of a road rage incident and that Daven intentionally ran his vehicle into the victim and his bicycle," police concluded.
Smith was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, failing to stay in a lane, reckless driving with a road rage penalty enhancement and two other traffic infractions.
