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Dad Left Bloody After Road Rage Incident

The Land O' Lakes man was taking his children to school when the incident took place.

Robert Bower was driving his kids to on Monday when another vehicle crossed his path, he later told a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy.

The frustrating chain of traffic choices that followed ended with Bower being attacked, according to the deputy’s report.

Bower told a deputy he was driving a Chevy Silverado toward the middle school at about 9:30 a.m. when a Honda Accord leaving a subdivision pulled in front of him. Bower told the deputy he passed the Honda and flipped its driver off. The arrest report says it was a no passing zone.

A witness traveling on Collier Parkway told a deputy he saw the Chevy tailgating an Accord and that he saw the drivers pass each other.

Bower and the Accord driver, Brian Todd Gabbard, passed each other two or three times, according to the arrest report.

In the area of 5333 Parkway Blvd., near the school, the vehicles stopped in the roadway. Gabbard left his vehicle and punched out the Silverado’s driver side window, the report stated. 

Gabbard then punched Bower several times, according to the report. Bower’s mouth was bloody, and Gabbard’s hands were bloody. Glass had fallen on Bower’s kids, according to the report.

Gabbard of 22938 Bradenwood Court in Land O' Lakes was arrested Monday, April 23, and charged with burglary with assault or battery. He was released from the Land O' Lakes Jail the same day on $150,000 bond.

Mick April 25, 2012 at 01:15 pm
Blind intersections, excessive speed on Collier and the counties refusal to do anything about the problem they have created with Collier and Bell Lake road extensions have everything to do with this incident. Shame on the county and the sheriff’s department for refusing to address the Collier safety concerns the residents of Sable Ridge have been pleading for help on.
Sherri Lonon (Editor) April 25, 2012 at 01:26 pm
Hi Mick! Thanks for the insight. What do Sable Ridge residents think needs to be done to make that area safer?
Common Sense April 25, 2012 at 04:25 pm
Two idiots!!!
Terri Dusek April 25, 2012 at 05:02 pm
There needs to be a light at Bell Lake and Collier PKY, no question. Also, Collier PKY merges from 4 lanes to 2 lanes, with a speed limit change from 45 to 40, just infront of the entrance to a community and then you have Bell Lake. It is a total cluster of tailgating, cars pulling out in front of other cars, no one yielding the right of way. How many acidents need to happen or does someone have to die first before something is done. I'm with you Mick.
Andy Warrener April 26, 2012 at 06:30 pm
How about people not drive like morons? I've driven a car in San Salvador and it is a freaking circus. I thank God that we have driver courtesy and right of way in the United States. Guess that vanishes when the road is inconvenient. C'mon people these are your neighbors. Why do we drive like punk children? Let's not let one more thing about this country degenerate into third-world status.
Rosie Heim April 27, 2012 at 01:38 am
I think once they widen Bell Lake Road in 2013, it will even get busier and more traffic going thru it. I would like to see a light at Bell Lake and Collier.
Lorraine Lane April 27, 2012 at 01:50 pm
Nice example for their children! Flipping off another driver, tailgating with children in the car. Nice show of maturity. Then this parent will wonder why his kids don't respect him and others.
Dr John April 27, 2012 at 09:23 pm
Can we just quit making everybody victims and placing blame on everyone except the perpetrators. Both these guys were acting like spoiled children. Both were in the wrong and jepardized not only their and the children's lives but also the lives of anyone else that happened to be in the vicinity. I think they both should be made examples of!
Dr John April 27, 2012 at 09:25 pm
Keep the idiots off the road!
Tom Ford May 24, 2012 at 11:55 am
Why wasn't Bower arrested for child endangerment and the DCS involved? There should also be some sort of charge for inciting aggressive behavior (flipping the bird). Our Sheriff's need retrained

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