Road Rage Incident results in Immediate Threat Suspension

As a result of an alleged road rage incident, Thomas Dillen, 19 years old, was arraigned yesterday on charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, a motor vehicle, and operating to endanger. The charges resulted from an incident that occurred at the Natick Collection last Friday.

Natick Police reported that Dillen, who was driving a 1990 Pontiac Firebird, was involved in an accident with another man who was driving a 1988 Audi. The driver of the Audi alleged that Dillon intentionally forced him off the road.

Dillen's account of the crash was contradicted by the parking garage surveillance video. The video showed that Dillen turned his vehicle into the Audi's path and abruptly slammed on his brakes. This caused the driver of the Audi to swerve to avoid striking Dillen and hit a curb.

Dillen and the victim know each other and they were involved in an on-going dispute. This case is somewhat similar to an incident in Leominster where a driver was charged with attempted murder when she tried to run down a mother and her daughter in a crosswalk, due to an on-going dispute.

As a result of the incident, Natick Police filed an immediate threat complaint with the Massachusetts RMV. Police can file these complaints whenever continued operation by a driver would constitute an immediate threat to public safety. The Registry reviews each complaint and, in most cases, immediately and indefinitely suspends the driver's license until a Registry hearing can be held. At the hearing, the Registry determines what course of action to take such as continuing the suspension and requiring the driver to take re-training classes, such as the NSC Alive at 25, the State Courts Against Road Rage (SCARR), or the Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving class. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles receives approximately 75 immediate threat complaints each week.