Road Rage Incident Leads to Conflicting Testimonies in Calgary Court
A Montana resident facing multiple criminal charges testified in Calgary court that he believed he was about to meet his maker during a violent road rage confrontation that left a pedestrian injured. Michael Newbery, from Great Falls, Montana, told the court he feared Calgarian Tevin London might kill him during the April 15, 2025 incident near Deerfoot Trail.
Dramatically Different Accounts of the Confrontation
Newbery and London presented vastly different versions of what occurred that evening when their vehicles crossed paths just north of Seton Boulevard S.E. during merging maneuvers onto the busy highway. According to Newbery's testimony, London aggressively moved in front of his vehicle and slammed on his brakes, nearly causing a collision and creating a traffic backup before jumping from his truck and approaching in what Newbery described as an aggressive fashion.
"It's putting the fear of God in me," Newbery told his defense counsel Cory Wilson, describing his thoughts at that critical moment. "I believed he was coming to hurt me or kill me."
London's Version of Events
London, however, told Crown prosecutor Pierre Grabinski a different story. He testified that he only exited his truck after pulling in front of Newbery because he believed the Montana man may have made contact with his vehicle when he was cut off moments earlier. London said he wanted to check for damage and obtain the other driver's information, not engage in confrontation.
"My only path of escape was through him and I had to take that path," Newbery explained to the court, describing his decision to drive into London. "I thought I was going to meet God."
Medical Consequences and Legal Arguments
Both parties agreed on one critical detail: Newbery pulled around London's truck and drove into him, forcing the Calgary man to roll over the accused's hood before slamming into his windshield and falling to the ground. Medical records indicate London suffered injuries to his hip, knee, and neck, and may have sustained a concussion from the impact.
Defense counsel Cory Wilson argued his client was acting in legitimate self-defense and should be acquitted on charges including:
- Assault with a weapon
- Assault causing bodily harm
- Dangerous driving causing bodily harm
- Leaving the scene of an accident where injury occurred
Cultural Context and Aftermath
Newbery, who had traveled to Calgary to attend a Flames hockey game, testified that coming from Montana—where carrying concealed weapons is legal—had made him particularly attuned to the potential for deadly conflict. After striking London with his vehicle, Newbery fled the scene and attempted to call 911, but his U.S. phone failed to connect to Calgary cell towers.
London pursued Newbery and caught up with him in a grocery store parking lot before police arrived. Crown prosecutor Grabinski argued that Newbery had alternative choices available rather than driving into London, including taking extra time to maneuver around the right side of the complainant's vehicle to avoid striking him.
Justice Margaret Keelaghan is expected to reserve her decision in the case, which highlights the dangerous escalation that can occur during road rage incidents and raises complex questions about self-defense claims in vehicular confrontations.
