Fredericton road rage video creates Facebook stir
CBC News | Posted: March 23, 2015 2:15 PM | Last Updated: March 23, 2015
Angry driver telephones Iain MacDonald to apologize after social media storm
A Fredericton man has apologized after a video of him in a road rage incident was shared widely on Facebook Sunday evening.
"I want to let you know that I realize that my response was out of line, regardless of what actions prompted it," Erik Bohnsack told CBC News on Monday afternoon.
"I have been going through a difficult time, but that is no excuse for my actions. I hope this can end quickly, as it has been distressing and hurtful to my family," he said.
"I regret my actions and assure you that they will never happen again."
The incident was captured on cellphone video by Iain MacDonald's son and posted to MacDonald's Facebook page Sunday.
It had been viewed more than 437,000 times by Monday afternoon.
MacDonald was driving on Priestman Street with his children in the vehicle when Bohnsack approached their car after stopping in front of it. He then launched a tirade at MacDonald for cutting him off, which MacDonald denies doing.
"I pulled out with lots of room," said MacDonald. "I didn't cut this guy off or provoke him in any way."
MacDonald is heard in the video apologizing. However, he said later that the apology was intended to defuse the situation.
Contacted by police
MacDonald, who works at the CBC as a broadcast technologist, said several other people have contacted him to say they experienced similar incidents with a person who they believe was the same driver.
He said he has also been contacted by the Fredericton police and RCMP.
RCMP said it is a municipal police matter.
Fredericton Police Force spokeswoman Alycia Morehouse said the department is still collecting the facts.
MacDonald said Bohnsack contacted him Sunday night by telephone and said he was "very sorry for what he had done."
"He stated on the phone that we will never do this again and that he is voluntarily seeking counselling for his anger issues," he said.