Hit and run leads to mid-traffic standoff at gunpoint | Crime

COLUMBUS, GA - A traffic collision led to a standoff at gunpoint in the middle of a Columbus street Tuesday afternoon.

The victim told police he was traveling west on Victory Dr. around 3 p.m. when a man hit his vehicle. The damage was worth $1,500.

The victim said he tried to get the other driver, identified as David Austin, age 70, to stop his car, but he refused.

Austin eventually had to stop at the intersection of 4th St. and Veterans Pkwy because of traffic.

The victim got out of his car to try and talk to Austin. That's when things escalated.

Austin reportedly backed his car into the victim's twice then proceeded to pull out a pistol and point it at the victim. 

The victim then pulled out his own pistol. No shots were fired.

The situation diffused itself when traffic started to move again and Austin drove away.

Police came in contact with Austin at a Shell gas station and arrested him.  

When asked why he pointed a gun at the victim  he replied, “To get them away from me; they were too close and thought they were going to rob me.”

He was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, pointing a pistol at another and two counts of improper backing, failure to maintain lanes and aggressive driving. 

During the course of all the commotion between Austin and the victim, a witness and pedestrian says she also tried to get Austin to stop after hitting the car. 

She told Austin she had called police.

The 42 year-old woman says Austin then put his car in gear and hit her twice with his vehicle bruising her legs with his front bumper.

Austin allegedly hit her a second time with his car when she yelled at him to stop.  

She suffered slight abrasions and bruising to her lower legs. 

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