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A 48-year old Tennessee man was sent to jail Sunday afternoon after allegedly damaging two vehicles in what police called a road rage incident.

Douglas O'Brien Coleman, of Asland, Tenn., was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Schedule II substance, driving under the influence, DUI per se and reckless driving. He also was charged with failing to stay on the scene, failing to notify law enforcement and failing to aid in an accident.

Colorado State Patrol Trooper Ryan Parker said the incident began on Colorado Highway 131. Coleman is alleged to have been driving his blue 1993 Ford pickup northbound on Colo. 131, following a 1995 Chevrolet truck driven by a 39-year-old Oak Creek man.

Coleman passed the vehicle in front of him, allegedly giving the driver the middle finger as he passed, state patrol said. It is alleged that Coleman then slammed on the brakes, causing the vehicle behind him to run into the back of his truck, Parker said.

The front of the Oak Creek man's truck and the rear of Coleman's truck sustained minor damage in the collision.

The Oak Creek man reported the incident to police. Coleman was apprehended by the Routt County Sheriff's Office near the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and Colo. 131, Parker said.

Parker responded to the accident, and, after talking to Coleman and smelling a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, asked him to take a roadside sobriety test and a breath test to determine his blood-alcohol level. Parker said Coleman failed the roadside maneuvers.

Parker also found a pipe in Coleman's vehicle that had residue that tested positive for methamphetamines, he said.

Coleman was taken to the Routt County Jail, where he is being held on $2,000 bond.

-- To reach Christine Metz call 871-4229

or e-mail cmetz@steamboatpilot.com