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Road rage allegation lands Talent man in the county cooler By JESSICA SMITH A Talent man who bumped a woman's bumper, flipped her the finger and threw items at her from his car is cooling his heels in jail today on charges stemming from what police call a case of "road rage." State troopers said Terry Vohn Wolgamot, 60, of 141 N. Front St., harassed an Ashland woman about 7 p.m. Friday as the two traveled south on Interstate 5 in separate cars at speeds as high as 95 mph. An Oregon State Police trooper arrested Wolgamot about 8:30 p.m. Friday at his home and charged him with reckless driving, fourth-degree assault and three counts each of reckless endangering and menacing. "The officer chose to arrest him because of the seriousness of the situation," said Sgt. Michael Buckman. "Three people were endangered." The Ashland woman told troopers that Wolgamot began tailgating her as she attempted to pass several trucks near milepost 21. Her two children, a 21-month-old and a 9-year-old, were passengers. The victim told police she was traveling 70 mph, but that apparently wasn't fast enough for Wolgamot. State police said the driver began flashing his lights, blowing his horn and flipping his middle finger at the victim. Troopers said the woman tapped her brakes to tell Wolgamot she had no place to go. Wolgamot allegedly became more hostile and began throwing things at her, troopers said. The victim told police she sped up to 95 mph, when Wolgamot reportedly began nudging her bumper and pushing her down the freeway. Police said the woman attempted to return to the right lane but Wolgamot followed. As she switched from lane to lane, Wolgamot mirrored her movements, police said. Wolgamot apparently left the freeway at the Talent exit after cutting the woman driver off, causing her to brake sharply, police said. The woman reported that one of the children suffered a bloody nose during the incident. Wolgamot was lodged on $32,000 bail in the Jackson County Jail, where he remained late Saturday. Road rage is not a new phenomenon in Jackson County, although police generally just ticket individuals for reckless driving. Buckman said drivers who find themselves the victim of an enraged driver should immediately get out of harm's way, either by pulling into a different lane or off the roadway. Buckman said drivers should never speed up or try to prevent an angry driver from passing. "A lot of times, people say, `I'm not going to let this person pass,"' Buckman said. "While I can certainly understand that, it's not their job." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA