A road rage incident that escalated into a violent assault in Boston earlier this year has led to the arraignment of a New Hampshire man. Thirty-six-year-old Aaron Olsen was charged with several offenses, including assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, after an altercation that left another man with severe facial injuries and a concussion, according to a statement by Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden.
Olsen, hailing from Manchester, New Hampshire, purportedly got involved in a heated exchange on February 5, which culminated in him allegedly assaulting a 49-year-old man at the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Hampden Street. The victim sustained six broken bones in his face, including fractures to the orbital bones and cheekbone. Judge David Breen has since ordered Olsen held on $200 bail, with a pre-trial hearing set for June 26, as reported by the Suffolk District Attorney's website.
Boston police responded to the scene at approximately 2:14 p.m., where they found the victim being tended to by EMS services. He was later transported to the hospital, where the extent of his injuries was ascertained. A witness provided crucial dashcam footage, which according to investigators, shows Olsen to be the aggressor in the confrontation, contrary to his self-defense claim.
The footage revealed Olsen to be the first to exit his vehicle and proceed to strike the victim multiple times, causing him to forcefully hit the pavement. In a disconcerting display, Olsen is seen wrestling the man's sweatshirt over his head and striking him while holding him down, ultimately leaving the scene before emergency services could tend to the victim. Olsen was later observed "leaving the scene prior to anyone approaching the victim lying on the street," as per the Suffolk District Attorney's Office. Both vehicles and the red light flight were caught on tape, further implicating Olsen in the assault.
Following the assault, Olsen's attempt to mask his involvement was revealed by call records, which showed he contacted State Police to inquire about any reported road rage incidents—a move that seemed to contradict his claim of acting in self-defense. The collected evidence, including the witness's video, led investigators to obtain a warrant for Olsen’s arrest. In the wake of the event, Hayden remarked, "This was a vicious, broad-daylight attack in the middle of a busy intersection that shocked other motorists and left the victim with terrible injuries," as noted by the Suffolk District Attorney's Office. He went on to express gratitude to the witness and the investigators whose efforts were instrumental in building the case against Olsen.
