Man pulls gun on Pike to stop road rage: 'My military training kicked in'

WORCESTER, Mass. — Frankie Hernandez was on his way home from work when he saw a man being dragged on the hood of a car as it traveled along the Massachusetts Turnpike in Weston.

It was rush hour traffic. The driver, 37-year-old Mark Fitzgerald, had just gotten into a road rage dispute with the man on the hood, 65-year-old Richard Kamrowski, State Police said.

A verbal altercation followed and somehow, Kamrowski got onto the hood of Fitzgerald's 2016 Infiniti QX70 SUV.

Previous: Man clings to windshield during wild road rage incident on Mass Pike

Fitzgerald was traveling along the Mass Pike at speeds of up to 70 mph as Kamrowski held onto to the hood of the moving SUV, stopping and accelerating when Kamrowski didn't get off.

That's when Hernandez said he got involved, in recounting the dramatic moments to Boston 25 News on Monday.

“My military training kicked in,” said Hernandez, who pulled out his legally-owned gun to get Fitzgerald to stop his vehicle before State Police arrived on scene.

"My only thought was, I need to do something to get this guy to stop," said Hernandez, a husband, father of three and military veteran.

It all started on Interstate 90 westbound on Friday when Fitzgerald and Kamrowski got into a minor crash on the Pike.

Kamrowski said he stopped in the left lane and got out of his car and tried to exchange paperwork with Fitzgerald. The exchange became heated, and police say Fitzgerald began driving toward Kamrowski, who was forced to get onto the hood of the SUV.

"Stop the car, stop the car. He wouldn’t stop," Kamrowski later told Boston 25 News.

Fitzgerald drove for two to three miles until Hernandez, who is a licensed gun owner, got out of his car, pointed his gun at Fitzgerald and ordered him to get out of his SUV, according to State Police, who then responded to the scene.

"I drew my gun, and I asked the gentleman of the SUV to get out of the car, because he wasn’t complying," Hernandez said, recounting how he got Fitzgerald to stop his vehicle.

Police, in turn, arrested Hernandez.

"I kept telling them, 'I'm licensed to carry, it’s in the car.' One of the troopers went to my car," Hernandez said.

Kamrowski said he's glad Hernandez intervened to calm the situation.

"I’m glad he was there," Kamrowski said.

No injuries were reported. Fitzgerald and Kamrowski, who are now facing charges, have been ordered to stay away from each other.

Fitzgerald's attorney, Micahel Chinman, placed blame on Kamrowski.

"This was a man who had attacked Mr. Fitzgerald while he was seated in his own car," Chinman said.

Fitzgerald was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, negligent driving, and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. Kamrowski was charged with disorderly conduct.

In Waltham District Court on Monday, Fitzgerald was released on $500 cash bail. Kamrowski was released on personal recognizance. Both are due back in court on March 13.

Related Stories:

Cox Media Group