An Idaho Falls woman was left with injuries to her left arm after police say she was dragged and pinned between two vehicles during an alleged road rage incident near a local elementary school, according to court documents.
Manuel Ibarra Jr., 49, has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the July 24 incident that occurred close to Linden Park Elementary School. Police say he intentionally drove toward a couple after both drivers pulled over following an initial dispute on the road.
According to a police affidavit obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, officers responded to reports of someone being hit by a car near the school at approximately 7:35 p.m. An officer located a Subaru matching the caller's description and initiated a traffic stop.
Background
Ibarra told police he was involved in a road rage incident with another driver after turning onto the same street. He claimed the other vehicle cut him off and that the driver intentionally slammed on his brakes to provoke him, according to the affidavit. Ibarra said he asked the other driver if they wanted to "pull over," and both vehicles stopped.
When officers spoke with the husband involved in the incident, he provided a different account. The man told police it was actually Ibarra who cut him off during driving. After both cars pulled over, the husband alleged that Ibarra drove toward him and his wife as they exited their vehicle.
The Investigation
The husband told investigators he jumped onto the roof of Ibarra's Subaru to avoid being hit, but his wife was not able to escape in time. According to the affidavit, the woman told police her left arm was dragged by Ibarra's vehicle and that she became pinned between her husband's car and Ibarra's vehicle.
The wife was reportedly on a phone call at the moment she was allegedly struck. The person on the other end of the line told police he heard his wife "scream" before the phone went dead, according to court documents. She complained of pain in her left arm at the scene.
Damage to Ibarra's Subaru included scuff marks on the front fender, cracks in the windshield, and shoe prints on the passenger side of the vehicle, an officer noted in the affidavit.
Ibarra was booked into the Bonneville County Jail and charged with two counts of aggravated battery. He has since posted a $30,000 bond and been released from custody.
Key Takeaways
- Manuel Ibarra Jr., 49, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery following an alleged road rage incident in Idaho Falls
- The wife told police her left arm was dragged by Ibarra's vehicle before she became pinned between two cars near Linden Park Elementary School
- Investigators say the woman was on a phone call when the incident occurred; a witness reported hearing her scream before the line went silent
- Ibarra has been released on $30,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 11
What's Next
Ibarra is awaiting his next court appearance scheduled for Aug. 11 in Bonneville County. The case remains under investigation by local authorities as they continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the couple being struck near the elementary school.
The incident has raised questions about escalating road rage behaviors and their potentially dangerous consequences, particularly in areas frequented by families and children.