SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Two individuals were taken into custody while one person sustained severe injuries last week following a minor traffic incident in Springfield that intensified into road rage, culminating in a second crash that resulted in a car catching fire.
According to Sara Pickford, Deputy Chief of the Springfield Police Department, the drivers involved were 19-year-old Mysean Jones and 64-year-old Michael Timms. Investigations revealed that Timms’ sedan collided with the rear of Jones’ SUV at an intersection.
Pickford explained that an argument ensued between Jones and Timms after the collision. During the altercation, Jones retrieved a crowbar from his vehicle and struck Timms’ car multiple times before returning to his SUV and heading south on Grand Avenue.
Pickford said Timms followed Jones to the intersection of Grand and Pope Avenues. There, Jones tried to turn around, but his SUV was hit by Timms’ car. The SUV caught fire as a result of this second collision.
There was another person inside the SUV, Pickford added, and they suffered third-degree burns from the fire. However, the burns were not life-threatening.
She also said that at one point, Timms continued to ram his car into Jones’ SUV, prompting Jones to produce a gun and open fire. Timms was not hit by the gunfire, and Pickford said Jones admitted to the shooting. The gun he used was not recovered.
Both Timms and Jones were arrested — Timms for aggravated DUI and driving with a revoked license and Jones for aggravated discharge of a weapon and criminal damage to property. Both made initial appearances in court on Friday and were denied pretrial release.
Timms and Jones are both due back in court for preliminary hearings on Thursday.
