PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Recent data reveals a troubling rise in road rage incidents in Arizona. The number of road rage crashes has surged from approximately 500 per year to over 1,000 between 2020 and 2024. Alarmingly, fatalities associated with these incidents have doubled as well, climbing from three to six deaths annually.
This spike in violent confrontations appears to coincide with a significant reduction in traffic enforcement across the state. The Phoenix Police Department’s traffic unit, once staffed by around 200 officers, now operates with just 30. Jesse Torrez, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, highlighted the diminishing priority of traffic enforcement, noting, “All over the state traffic enforcement has decreased in its priorities with agencies.”
A Tragic Incident: Steven Bevan
One of the most harrowing examples of road rage occurred in July when Steven Bevan was fatally shot during a confrontation near Priest Drive and Warner Road in Tempe. The incident was tragically captured on his son’s cellphone from the backseat, offering a chilling look into the severity of road rage encounters.
The video footage shows Bevan stopping his vehicle and exiting to confront another driver. In an instant, a door opens from a truck, followed by the sound of a gunshot. Bevan collapsed next to his car, visibly in distress and in the sight of his two young sons. His mother, Anabel Bevan, expressed her disbelief, stating, “How could someone get shot over a road rage incident? I just couldn’t understand how that could happen.”
Complicating matters, the other driver was accompanied by his young daughter. According to police reports, Bevan was 5-foot-7 and weighed 190 pounds, while the shooter towered at 6-foot-8 and weighed 300 pounds, indicating an alarming power disparity in the confrontation.
The Complexity of Self-Defense Claims
The shooter claimed self-defense, a stance supported by Arizona’s robust self-defense laws. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell explained, “If the defense raises the issue of self-defense, the burden is on us to rebut that beyond a reasonable doubt.” Although charges were pursued, a grand jury failed to indict the driver. New evidence from a Valley Metro bus camera illustrated Bevan’s car swerving and cutting off the other vehicle, complicating the narrative of the shooting considerably.
Mitchell remarked, “Those videos may have had an impact because they showed just how the shooting victim was engaging.” This complex interplay of actions raises questions about accountability in road rage incidents, particularly as emotional reactions escalate quickly on the roads.
Heartbreaking Loss: Dharquintium Brown
The devastating effects of road rage extend beyond Bevan’s family. Dharquintium Brown experienced a personal tragedy six years ago when another driver opened fire on him as he exited his car with his wife and two daughters in their Phoenix driveway. The shooting killed Brown’s 10-year-old daughter, Summerbell.
In recounting the horrific event, Brown said, “You decided to pull up to my curb and I get out of my car and he starts shooting. And when I dive, he shoots me right here and he shoots through the car and kills our daughter.” The shooter, Joshua Gonzalez, is charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Causes and Implications of Rising Road Rage
The rise in road rage incidents can be attributed to several factors. Jesse Torrez noted that impatience, speeding, and a lack of law enforcement presence contribute to this alarming trend. “It sends the message that the consequence to a poor decision be it DUI, whether it be speeding, anything,” he explained. “It’s just not in their mind anymore.”
Adding to the urgency of addressing this issue, a report from Forbes Advisor indicated that Arizona ranks among the states with the most confrontational drivers, with over 80 percent reporting they have faced yelling, insults, or threats on the road.
Both the Bevan and Brown families have bravely chosen to share their heartbreaking stories in hopes of raising awareness and preventing further road rage incidents. Their message is simple but crucial: drivers need to take a deep breath and consider the potential consequences of their behaviors.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Do you have a story you want us to investigate? Tell us about it by contacting us.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.