Massachusetts

Police: Drunk Driver Pointed Gun at Another Driver, Tried to Run Him Off Highway

Police say a drunk man pointed a gun at another driver after trying to run him off a Massachusetts highway early Tuesday morning.

Jason Root, a 37-year-old Beverly man, allegedly began following an SUV in his Jeep Cherokee on Interstate 93 southbound, then continued on Interstate 95. State police responded around 2:30 a.m. to I-95 in Woburn, where a crash had been reported on the southbound side of the road.

The victim told police Root had rear-ended him and tried to run him off I-93 repeatedly. After he exited onto I-95, Root continued chasing him, then pulled in front of him and forced him to stop in the middle lane, according to police.

The man says Root then got out, screamed at him and pointed a gun at him. The victim ducked for cover, drove away and called police.

When police responded, Root told a trooper he had a gun on the seat and was licensed to carry. He allegedly failed multiple sobriety tests.

Root faces charges of OUI, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation and resisting arrest. He was expected to be arraigned Tuesday at Woburn District Court. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

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