Road Rage Reported In Wesley Chapel

By Matt Wiley,

Road rage incidents are often dangerous and can escalate quickly, as one Tampa man learned after shots were fired at his car on I-275.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), at 8 p.m. on January 7, a call was received about a road rage incident in the University of South Florida area of Tampa. FHP reports that Hector Rosina, 19, of Tampa, was driving his 2004 Dodge Neon and merging onto northbound I-275 at Fletcher Ave. when he was cut off by a gold Cadillac CTS, which also was merging. Rosina described the driver as a black male, but couldn’t describe any other details about his appearance.

Rosina drove north in the center lane, but decided to merge into the outside lane, where he accidentally cut off the Cadillac. Rosina told FHP troopers that the Cadillac was tailgating him, so he slowed down. The cars began driving next to each other and hand gestures were exchanged. The driver of the Cadillac then produced a handgun and fired two shots at Rosina’s Neon.

After the cars separated, FHP reports that Rosina pulled off the interstate and called in the incident at S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. During the investigation, a gunshot round was found in Rosina’s car.

FHP is seeking the public’s help in identifying the other driver. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 800-873-TIPS.