Leesburg man arrested in road rage incident on Florida Turnpike
Road rage graphic courtesy of FLHSMV.
Kenansville, Florida - On Sunday, April 16, 2023, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) received information about a reckless vehicle driving north on the Florida Turnpike (State Road 91) around mile marker 191. The vehicle was described as a white sedan, improperly changing lanes, cutting in front of vehicles, and following too closely while driving at a high rate of speed - over 100 mph.
FHP troopers initiated a traffic stop and instructed the driver and passenger to exit the vehicle. After exiting as instructed, the driver – 22 year-old Zion Zaire Waller of Leesburg – was arrested for reckless driving, and the passenger was detained while the vehicle was inventoried before being towed.
As troopers spoke to the occupants, a pickup truck pulled up alongside the patrol car. The driver advised the troopers that the white sedan pulled over for reckless driving had also shot at their vehicle, causing damage to the driver’s side door. A loaded rifle and handgun were recovered on the front passenger floorboard of suspect Waller's vehicle.
FHP troopers from the FHP Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence (BCII) were dispatched to the scene. After investigation and interviews with passengers of both vehicles, it was determined that defendant Waller had fired a firearm from his vehicle at the victim vehicle.
Waller was transported to the Osceola County Jail, charged with three counts of attempted murder, reckless driving, shooting into an occupied vehicle, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and possession of an unlicensed firearm. The investigation concluded that the Defendant’s motivation to fire his weapon most likely was a result of an aggressive driving and “road rage” type incident preceding the discharge of the firearm.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), over 61,928 citations have been issued for aggressive driving since 2020 - and each year, the percentage increases by over 13%, with an overall total increase of 31% in the last three years. Aggressive driving is present in several unsafe driving practices, such as following too closely, rapid lane changes without signals, accelerated speed over the posted limit, failing to yield right-of-way, improper passing, and running traffic lights.
If you are involved in an incident of aggressive driving, remain calm and call *FHP (*347) for assistance. Do not engage with the other driver or put yourself at risk by trying to gather further information.