Bernalillo County man charged in viral Albuquerque road rage crash

Residents of Bernalillo County received formal charges against the second driver involved in a viral road rage incident that took place at an Albuquerque intersection in August.

An arrest warrant issued on Oct. 19 lists 68-year-old Robert Hagen on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property, and leaving the scene of an accident.

The charges follow a police investigation that reviewed video footage and witness statements. The original video from Aug. 18 has accumulated over 34 million views on social media platforms.

Footage shows Jenipher Lewis striking a truck with a baseball bat while stopped at a red light. Hagen subsequently followed Lewis and collided with her SUV, shattering the rear window and pushing the vehicle across the intersection.

Lewis, who was driving with two children in the car, has remained in custody since Aug. 20. A judge granted a motion to hold her in jail until trial after a grand jury indicted her on Sept. 3 for child abuse, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license.

A criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court states that an Albuquerque police officer assigned to the case on Oct. 19 found both drivers engaged in a road rage situation. The officer noted that Hagen pulled into traffic, causing a vehicle ahead of Lewis to slow down, which angered her. Lewis confronted Hagen, who laughed, before she exited her vehicle and hit his truck with the bat.

The complaint states that despite Hagen's claim that the crash was unintentional, the video shows him accelerating toward Lewis and braking only briefly after impact. The officer concluded that Hagen's actions were likely intentional. Jason Bowles, Hagen's attorney, said the police previously indicated Hagen would be treated as a victim, making the new charges troubling. Jess Gaughan, Lewis' attorney, said the team is hopeful the court will get a clearer picture of the events and continues to fight for her release.