Man gets jaw broken defending woman in cyclist road rage attack on Hamilton Mountain

A cyclist road rage attack on Hamilton Mountain this week left a man with a broken jaw, after he came to the defence of a woman the cyclist was chasing.

The woman told CHCH News an unknown rider had followed her – while she was driving in a van – after a minor dispute on the road.

She then went to Al Ford’s home for safety, which then turned violent, and left Ford with a broken jaw.

“I went ‘hey buddy’ and as soon as I said that, he turned around right away and started riding back this way,” said Ford.

West Hamilton Mountain resident Ford didn’t hesitate to step in for someone in danger, after a neighbour was trying to evade a cyclist in the area near Hawkswood Trail and Eagleglen Way earlier this week.

“He says, as he got close to me, I says ‘what’s going on?’,” said Ford. “Next thing I know, he’s mumbling something about cars on the road and that type of thing, and then it was a ‘whammo’ – he gave me a right hook, across the jaw, wow.”

Ford added that he stayed on his feet and the unknown rider threatened him again before riding off.

His doctors determined that his jaw was broken and would require surgery.

“Probably looking at one plate on this side here, the right side, even though I got hit on the other side,” said Ford.

But Ford says he has no regrets for his good Samaritan actions.

A few neighbours witnessed the dust-up Tuesday just after 2 p.m., right after the cyclist began following a woman around the neighbourhood.

“It’s very bizarre, and very disturbing,” said Janice Nicholson, Ford’s neighbour. “For that to happen, when he’s such a nice gentleman, wanting to help someone.”

CHCH News obtained surveillance video that shows a blue vehicle driving around a bend, with a bike rider in a red shirt following them to the end of the street, and then making the same turn.

Ford said he was working in his garage, when the woman pulled up into his driveway, asking for help.

CHCH News spoke to the woman who was being followed by the cyclist, and asked what led up to the chase that ended up on Ford’s property.

She said everything began a few blocks away, over an apparent traffic dispute, which led to her being followed for over ten minutes.

They describe the cyclist as a man taller than six feet, wearing a red shirt, black riding pants, a white helmet, sunglasses and a trimmed white beard.

Ford said he filed a police report and hopes that the man is found.

“He’s going to hurt somebody else in the community – that’s what I think anyway, eventually,” said Ford. “Just by the way he looked at me, the way he acted, and the way he took a swing at me without even asking me any questions, or any reason on why he did what he did.”

Ford said he intends to press charges.

CHCH News has reached out to Hamilton Police Services for more information on the reported assault, but they have not provided any details.

READ MORE: Local police, OPP take Polar Plunge in Brantford to support Special Olympics