Road rage in Lebanon turns deadly: 20-year-old run over multiple times in Faraya

A 20-year-old man has died in Lebanon’s town of Faraya after being run over multiple times by an angry driver following a dispute over the right of way on a road, according to Lebanese media.

Khalil Joe Khalil had gotten in a heated argument with 25-year-old Jonathon Chamoun while the two were driving. The conflict escalated when Chamoun began following Khalil as he made his way to a hotel in Faraya where his family was staying.

The 20-year-old called his family to tell them that he was being chased by Chamoun, reports said.

According to preliminary information and surveillance footage, Khalil had just entered the hotel parking in Faraya when Chamoun, driving an SUV in the wrong direction, followed him into the parking area.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) had said that the 25-year-old was accompanied by another person in the car, who has only been identified by his initials as RA.

When he arrived at the hotel, Khalil reportedly left his car to go to his relatives when Chamoun ran him over three times with his vehicle, an eyewitness who spoke to local media said.

Khalil’s sister, who had gone outside to meet her brother upon his arrival, was shocked to find his body on the ground.

She told reporters that she screamed “Why did you do this?” at the perpetrator, who replied: “So he can learn how to overtake me with the car.”

NNA said that the victim was taken by the Red Cross to St. George’s Hospital in Ajaltoun, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Chamoun and the passenger who was in the car with him at the time of the crime have been arrested.