WEWAHITCHKA — An Overstreet man was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and leaving the scene of accident involving property damage Thursday after he chased and crashed a vehicle he mistakenly believed was driven by his ex-wife, Gulf County Sheriff’s Office investigators said.
Kenneth Norris Rogers, 43, was initially taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.
A 911 caller reported a van had collided with her vehicle on State 71 and Fleming Curve and had fled the scene.
Shortly thereafter, Sgt. John Murnan located the suspect vehicle and identified Rogers, who said he thought the other vehicle was his “ex-wife’s van.” Rogers told Murnan he had stopped to check on the driver.
Rogers was taken back to the scene of the crash following a chase, where he was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol on charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to vehicle or property, a second-degree misdemeanor. He was transported to the Gulf County Jail.
During a follow-up investigation, investigators asid they discovered Rogers had tailgated the victim from the Gulf and Calhoun County line into Wewahitchka.
When the victim arrived in Wewahitchka, she stopped briefly to conduct work-related business off State 71. Once back on State 71 she noticed Rogers was again behind her, investigators said.
Rogers continued to tailgate her vehicle south on State 71, at speeds estimated at roughly 60 mph, before reaching Fleming Curve, when authorities said Rogers drove his van into the rear end of her van.
Rogers pulled along the driver’s side and collided again with the victim’s vehicle, forcing her from the road.
Once he opened the victim’s door and discovered it was not his ex-wife, he fled.
Investigators determined Rogers’ actions were intentional, believing it was his ex-wife. Rogers was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.
He was released on $5,000 bond.