Video: Man dies in road rage stabbing

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. - A 20-year-old man was fatally stabbed during a fight on a Bellingham street Sunday afternoon.

Bellingham police Lt. Steve Felmley says witnesses reported that David L. Datskiy, of Mount Vernon, and his passenger pulled their vehicle over in the 1500 block of James Street at 1 p.m., and another vehicle pulled up beside them.

Datskiy and the other driver got out of their vehicles, argued and exchanged punches before witnesses said the second driver stabbed Datskiy and then fled from the scene.

"It looked like he (the suspect) threw a punch but it was…like a jabbing thing," said Steve Engsminger who saw the altercation. "The kid (Datskiy) kind of went down to his knees."

Felmley says Datskiy's passenger, a male friend, drove him to St. Joseph Hospital, where he died.

KING

A spray paint circle marks the location of a possible road rage ncident in which a 20-year-old was stabbed to death in Bellingham, Wash. May 11, 2008.

While police initially reported the incident as road rage, the investigation has not yet confirmed it.
"The passenger in the victim's vehicle stated that they were have some car toubles, were going rather slow through the residential neighborhood," said Sgt. Ken Brown. "(the passenger) indicated that that might have been part of the problem"

What the assailant did after the stabbing bothers Engsminger.

"He had his window down and he waved to us and drove slowly and drove around the corner," Engsminger said. "That's disturbing.  I don't think he realized he hurt this kid that badly."

KING

Witness Steve Engsminger makes a stabbing motion as he describes the fight.

"I'm traumatized by it.  I'm traumatized by it."

Police were looking for the assailant, who is described as a white man in his 20s, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build, bald head, no facial hair, and wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

Witnesses said the suspect may have been driving a late model Cadillac and may have had a female passenger in the car.