By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 22-year-old man is recovering after a road rage incident in which he and his vehicle were both attacked by a baseball bat-wielding motorist near Centralia.
It happened about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday along the 100 block of Joppish Road, northwest of town and deputies are looking for the assailant who was driving a green compact car, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect’s name may be Matt, detective Sgt. Dusty Breen said this morning.
The victim said he was headed west on Galvin Road when he tried to pass the green car, which at first blocked him from passing, Breen said. The victim finally did go around the car, but then it followed him and finally the victim stopped to explain he only wanted to pass, Breen said.
“I’m assuming he probably didn’t want it to follow him to his girlfriend’s house,” Breen said.
The green car’s driver got out and approached the victim’s truck, and used the bat to break its rear window and then struck the 22-year-old Centralia man in the face with it, Breen said. The 22-year-old ended up with a broken eye socket, according to the sheriff’s office.
Breen said the only description deputies got of the attacker was a white male, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a flat-billed baseball hat.
However, the victim heard a female inside the green car yelling, “Matt, stop,” Breen said.
He thought there might be others in the car, but wasn’t sure, Breen said.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the suspect to call them, or call Crime Stoppers of Lewis County. “Matt” is wanted for second-degree assault.
The 22-year-old drove himself to his girlfriend’s home nearby and she took him to Providence Centralia Hospital, where he was treated and has been released, Breen said.

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