SOUTH ABINGTON TWP., LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A Luzerne County man has been charged after police say a road rage confrontation inside a one-lane tunnel escalated into an assault on an elderly woman.
According to the South Abington Township Police Department, officers investigated an incident that occurred May 16 in the Shady Lane Road Tunnel.
Police said an 81-year-old woman was driving through the tunnel when an oncoming vehicle allegedly entered from the opposite direction without yielding the right-of-way.
Investigators identified the driver of the other vehicle as 61-year-old Raymond Cupinski of Plymouth.
According to police, Cupinski exited his vehicle and approached the woman’s car. Witness statements and video evidence allegedly show him striking the vehicle multiple times, using force against the driver’s side door, threatening the victim and physically assaulting her.
The woman told investigators she was struck in the head several times during the confrontation.
A witness remained at the scene and later provided video footage to police. Additional surveillance video from nearby locations helped investigators identify the suspect vehicle and driver, according to authorities.
Following the investigation, police filed charges against Cupinski, including terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and several traffic-related offenses.
Detectives from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and officers from the Hanover Township Police Department assisted in locating and arresting Cupinski.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Paul Keeler and committed to the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.