A Florida woman drove her SUV onto a bike path for one frightening reason that has parents outraged

Road rage incidents are becoming more common across America.

But one case in Florida crossed a dangerous line.

And a Florida woman drove her SUV onto a bike path for one frightening reason that has parents outraged.

SUV chases teenager on pedestrian path in broad daylight

A quiet Saturday afternoon in Palm Coast, Florida turned into a nightmare for 14-year-old Gaige Ellis when a stranger decided to take the law into her own hands.

Ellis was riding his electric bike on the Pine Lakes Path, a multi-use trail designed for pedestrians and cyclists, when he noticed something that didn’t belong.

“It was really scary because I look back at the headlights and, like, that’s not supposed to be there,” Ellis told reporters.

What he saw behind him was a full-sized SUV driven by 65-year-old Julia Kalthof, who had driven her vehicle off the road and onto the pedestrian path to chase him down.

The terrifying pursuit was captured on video as Ellis desperately tried to escape.

“There’s this lady trying to hit me,” the teenager said in footage he recorded during the chase.

Ellis attempted to flag down passing cars for help as Kalthof’s SUV stayed just six to ten feet behind him.

A Good Samaritan witness saw the dangerous situation unfolding and took action to help the boy.

The witness used his own vehicle to cut off Kalthof’s SUV at the intersection of Pine Lakes Parkway and Woodhaven Drive, allowing Ellis to escape safely.

Woman admits she wanted to confront teen’s parents

When Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies caught up with Kalthof, she admitted to the chase but offered a stunning justification for her reckless behavior.

“Kalthof told deputies that the incident occurred because she was angry at the victim for riding his e-bike too fast and wanted to find out where he lived in order to speak to his parents,” the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

The woman’s self-appointed mission to police a teenager’s bicycle speed could have ended in tragedy.

Ellis described a much more aggressive encounter than Kalthof admitted to.

“The victim told deputies that Kalthof screamed at him, cut him off, and nearly struck him, causing him to fear for his life,” according to the sheriff’s office.

The teenager provided video evidence showing Kalthof driving aggressively behind him on the path where motor vehicles are prohibited.

Sheriff condemns dangerous vigilante behavior

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly didn’t mince words when describing Kalthof’s actions.

“This woman caused a dangerous situation with her reckless and aggressive behavior and could have seriously hurt or killed not just the child she was chasing, but anyone who happened to be walking or biking on that path,” Staly said.

The sheriff praised the witness who intervened to stop the pursuit.

“I also want to thank the bystander who stopped a dangerous situation and called 911 so that our deputies could handle it, conduct their investigation, and arrest this driver who clearly needs anger management,” Staly added.

On June 10, three days after the incident, Kalthof was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and reckless driving.

She also received a traffic citation for driving on the multi-use path.

Kalthof was briefly held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility before being released on $3,000 bond.

Mother expresses outrage over attack on her child

The victim’s mother, Christina Ellis, was furious when she learned what happened to her son.

“I’m furious. As a mother and as an adult, there’s no way on God’s green earth that that’s OK or that it’s acceptable,” she told reporters.

The family didn’t learn about the incident until the day after it happened, when they reached out to law enforcement to report what had occurred.

Young Gaige Ellis is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of being chased by a two-ton vehicle.

“It’s just I’m trying to get over the fear of her out there,” the teenager said.

He’s taking a break from biking while he processes the traumatic experience.

https://twitter.com/WFLA/status/1933635525484720225

E-bike regulations spark debate

The incident has renewed discussions about e-bike safety and regulations in Florida communities.

Under Florida law, electric bicycles are classified the same as regular bicycles and are permitted on streets, highways, bicycle lanes, and multi-use paths.

Sheriff Staly suggested that lawmakers need to address e-bike speeds on shared paths.

“E-bikes are becoming more and more prevalent in Palm Coast, and the riders need to control their speed and recklessness too,” Staly said. “The legislature needs to give us the new laws to address the behavior of these riders, such as limiting the allowed speed riders can go, just like cars.”

But regardless of any concerns about e-bike speeds, law enforcement officials made clear that vigilante justice is never acceptable.

Taking matters into your own hands by chasing a child with a vehicle crosses every line of reasonable behavior.

This case serves as a stark reminder that road rage and aggressive driving can quickly escalate into life-threatening situations.

The fact that Kalthof felt justified in pursuing a teenager with her SUV shows how dangerously some people’s judgment can become clouded by anger.

Fortunately, the quick thinking of a Good Samaritan prevented what could have been a tragic outcome.