Man dies after being 'pushed' into tree in alleged road rage incident

A Calgary driver is now charged with manslaughter, accused of killing another man with his car in what police are calling a road rage incident. 

Steven Allen, 34, appeared in court on Wednesday and was released on bail by a justice of the peace.

Allen is accused of killing David Berglund, 35, Tuesday in the northeast community of Temple. 

Victim brandished a knife, police say

Police say they were called Tuesday afternoon by the passenger in a red Chevrolet Aveo who said she and the driver were involved in an ongoing road rage incident.

The altercation between the two drivers started with a "non-injury hit-and-run" collision between the two vehicles shortly before the call was made to 911.

At the time, a GMC Sierra truck "was reported to be driving erratic and swerving in and out of traffic," according to police. 

The driver of the truck is alleged to have flashed a knife toward the driver and passenger of the red car.

Victim 'pushed into a nearby tree'

While on the phone with 911 dispatchers, the occupants of the Chevrolet were told to disengage with the driver of the truck, but police say they ignored that order and continued to follow the vehicle.

The situation continued to escalate, and the driver of the truck pulled over and got out of his vehicle in the 6900 block of Temple Drive N.E.

Shortly after, the Chevrolet drove past the GMC driver, who kicked the passenger-side of the vehicle, police say.

"The Chevrolet Aveo then stopped and reversed into the driver of the GMC Sierra, who was then struck and pushed into a nearby tree."

'Shocking': police chief

The victim was declared dead at the scene. 

Video obtained by CTV News shows two people getting out of the red car. One of them then covers the victim — who is lying on the snow-covered grass between the sidewalk and the road — with a blanket. 

Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld called the incident "shocking."

"So the notion that something like this can escalate like it did should be a call to all of us to say, 'we need to be super careful when it comes to this type of thing.'"

Allen was released Wednesday morning on $2,000 promise to pay. He was ordered to have no contact with a woman (name withheld) and is not allowed to have weapons in his possession. 

He is set to return to court in February.

Allen was also ordered to live at an address just two blocks from the alleged homicide scene.