Austin MoPac road-rage clip goes viral after window smash

The Mopac interchange in southwest Austin Monday October 15, 2018. RALPH BARRERA for AMERICAN-STATESMAN

A road-rage encounter on MoPac is drawing widespread attention after a video surfaced showing one driver shattering another motorist’s window before speeding off — prompting a chase down the busy highway near the Highway 71 interchange.

The incident happened during heavy midday traffic. A car pivoted in front of a vehicle stopped in traffic before a man got out. He threw his hands up in anger, revealing a long skinny object in his hand.

He then approached the car behind him, struck its driver-side window with the object — breaking it — then sprinted back to his own car and accelerated away. He wove out of MoPac traffic around cars in the turn lane to escape, but the targeted driver quickly followed.

It’s unclear what led to the confrontation.

The Statesman has contacted the Austin Police Department and will update this story as additional information becomes available.

The video has viewed over 100,000 times since posting, garnering comments like "Good way to get shot in Texas" by @griff_nation.

"Typical Subaru driver" @_Steven_Jacobs joked.