A case of road rage turned in to an assault on a local letter carrier on Thursday, and now there is a reward being offered in connection with the incident.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Monday posted the announcement of up to a $50,000 reward “for information leading to the arrest and conviction” of the suspects in the case.
Escalon Police were called to the scene along Highway 120, east of the 120/Main Street intersection about 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1. According to police, traffic in the area had been slowed due to a train and a letter carrier driving a postal truck had been able to inch the vehicle into the line of traffic but the move apparently angered the driver directly behind her. Police said the driver of that vehicle then passed the letter carrier and stopped his car in front of hers, forcing her to abruptly stop as well. The car then moved forward slightly, braking again and forcing the mail carrier to stop.
It was at that point that the female passenger in the car got out and approached the mail truck, taking a combative stance, according to witnesses. The male driver of the car then intervened, getting in front of his passenger and failing to heed the mail carrier’s warning that she was a government employee and to not touch her. Witnesses told police the agitated driver instead confronted the mail carrier and shoved her, while people in local businesses in the area began to come to the aid of the postal employee.
The driver and passenger then got back in their car and fled the scene, police said, last seen eastbound on Highway 120.
According to the reward flyer issued by the postal service, the suspects are described as a white or light-skinned Hispanic adult male, between five-feet-seven and six feet tall with a muscular build, in his mid to late-20s. The Hispanic female adult passenger appeared to be between 30 and 35 years old, between five feet and five feet, three inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds, with dark hair. Their vehicle was described as a red Dodge Challenger or Charger with white or gray racing stripes. It had paper plates.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 and select ‘option 2.’ People are also warned not to try to apprehend the suspects, but contact police and the postal service.
Escalon Postmaster Ken Crandal said the postal carrier involved was not physically hurt in the incident, though she was checked out by Escalon Community Ambulance personnel on the scene and was still off work on Monday due to the incident. Postal officials also said no mail was stolen.
