Posted on Fri, Oct. 06, 2006

Union City road rage sends motorcyclist to hospital

By John Woolfolk

Mercury News

Union City police are looking for the driver of a light-blue Buick who rammed a motorcyclist on Mission Boulevard and then savagely beat him on the roadside Thursday afternoon.

Police would not name the motorcyclist, a 53-year-old Union City man who underwent surgery at St. Rose hospital in Hayward for facial cuts and other wounds. His condition was not immediately available, but police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Police described the driver as a 6-feet-6 inches tall, 300-pound African American man in his late 20s or early 30s who was driving a 1997 Buick Park Avenue Ultra with California license plate number 5LSA371. Police said the car is registered to an Oakland man matching that description, but they have not confirmed the driver was the owner.

The motorcyclist was driving north on Mission Boulevard on a 1983 Honda bike between the lanes of cars approaching the Decoto Road intersection, and stopped for the red light shortly before 5:30 p.m., police said.

When the signal light turned green, the Buick driver swerved toward the motorcyclist as the two accelerated into the intersection, police said. The motorcyclist pushed off the Buick with his leg to avoid a collision. But the Buick then maneuvered behind the motorcycle and then accelerated to ram it from behind, denting the back end, police said.

The two men pulled to the side of the road and as the motorcyclist approached, the Buick driver got out of his car and began hitting him in the head and face. Sgt. Chris Guckert said that the motorcyclist, who was about 5-feet-9 to 5-feet-10 inches tall and about 160 to 180 pounds.

``He pushes his door open and just starts pummeling the motorcyclist,'' Guckert said. ``The suspect apparently initially hit him in helmet and knocked him down a couple times but the guy kept getting up. The third time, he dropped him in a drainage ditch and kicked him in the face.''

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but it did not protect his face, police said.

The driver fled the scene as at least five witnesses stopped to render aid, Guckert said.

Police ask anyone with information to call (510) 471-1365 and ask for Detective Mahaney.

Contact John Woolfolk at jwoolfolk@mercurynews.com or (408) 975-9346.