Payette County, Idaho; Oregon man fatally shot in I-84 road rage incident in Idaho.
PAYETTE COUNTY, Idaho — A road rage confrontation in rural Idaho turned deadly Monday morning when a Salem, Oregon man was fatally shot following an altercation with another driver, according to the Payette County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. and began on Interstate 84, where two vehicles – a white Nissan Frontier and a white Kia Optima – were both traveling westbound. The situation escalated when the drivers exited the freeway at the Black Canyon Road exit and continued south on Sand Hollow Road.
Investigators reported that the Kia, driven by 32-year-old Charles Vincent Avery of Salem, stopped in the roadway and deliberately blocked the Nissan. Both vehicles came to a halt, at which point the confrontation escalated further.
According to the sheriff’s office, Avery left his car and physically confronted the 71-year-old man driving the Nissan Frontier. In the course of the altercation, Avery damaged the truck’s side mirror and tried to smash the driver’s side window. He then managed to open the driver’s door, intensifying the threat to the other motorist.
Faced with Avery’s aggression, the driver of the Nissan told investigators he feared for his life. In response, he drew a firearm and shot Avery. Deputies confirmed that Avery was killed instantly and pronounced dead at the scene. The Nissan driver, who is from Boise, was not injured during the confrontation.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the sequence of events was consistent with a road rage dispute that spiraled into violence. Witness accounts and physical evidence supported the claim that Avery had initiated a physical confrontation and attempted to forcibly enter the other driver’s vehicle before the shooting occurred.
The case has now been referred to the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office, which will review the circumstances and determine whether charges will be filed. Authorities have not released the name of the 71-year-old man involved in the shooting, citing the ongoing review process.
The incident underscores how quickly roadway disputes can escalate into life-threatening situations. What began as a disagreement between two drivers on the interstate ended in a fatal shooting just minutes later, leaving one man dead and another facing the legal consequences of a deadly encounter.
Local officials reminded the public that road rage can have serious consequences, and they urged drivers to remain calm and avoid confrontations whenever possible. Payette County investigators continue to collect evidence and review the timeline of the incident, but they confirmed that Avery’s aggressive actions directly preceded the shooting.
The community is left grappling with the violent outcome of what may have started as an ordinary morning drive. As the case moves forward, the prosecutor’s office will weigh whether the shooting was justified under Idaho law, which allows the use of deadly force in cases of self-defense.
