The confrontation unfolded in two stops along Emancipation Highway during rush hour.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A Fredericksburg woman is being held without bond after police say she hit another car, drove off, then rammed the vehicle several more times and stabbed the other driver in the hand during a road rage incident on Emancipation Highway.
The suspect, Alexis Spencer, 28, was arrested after officers were called to a crash report around 5 p.m. Feb. 27, police said. Investigators said the violence escalated after the vehicles continued down the same corridor and stopped again, where the alleged ramming and stabbing occurred. The victim’s injuries were described as minor and not life-threatening, but the allegations include a felony charge and underscore how quickly traffic disputes can turn into criminal cases.
Police said the call first came from the 2200 block of Emancipation Highway, where officers were dispatched to investigate a reported crash. While police were still en route, the details changed. Dispatchers received word that one of the vehicles involved was leaving the area, and officers prepared for a moving situation rather than a typical crash scene. Police said the driver of the vehicle that struck the other car was attempting to flee, and the other motorist followed behind as both vehicles traveled south.
The vehicles later stopped in the 3300 block of Emancipation Highway, police said. There, investigators said Spencer intentionally struck the victim’s car multiple times with her own vehicle while the victim remained inside. Police said Spencer then exited her car and stabbed the other driver in the hand with a knife. Officers who arrived at the scene took Spencer into custody, police said, and recovered a knife. Police did not say how long the encounter lasted once the cars stopped or whether the victim was able to drive after being treated.
The victim was treated at the scene and released, police said. Fredericksburg police did not identify the victim, describe the victim’s age, or release information about the vehicles involved. Police also did not say what sparked the dispute that led to the initial collision report, whether there was an argument before either stop, or whether any witnesses provided statements beyond reporting the crash. Officials have not said whether video from nearby businesses or passing drivers captured the alleged ramming or the stabbing.
Spencer is charged with malicious wounding, felony hit-and-run, assault and aggressive driving, police said. The hit-and-run allegation suggests investigators believe she left the initial crash location before the final stop and attack. Police did not specify whether the initial collision caused injuries or significant property damage, or whether the scene required road closures. The aggressive driving charge, typically tied to dangerous driving behavior, adds to the list of allegations that prosecutors will need to prove as the case moves through court.
The arrest comes as authorities across Northern Virginia and the Washington region respond to a fresh series of road rage cases, including a separate incident on the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County that turned deadly days later. Local police agencies have warned in recent years that confrontations between motorists can escalate from shouting and gestures to weapons and serious injuries. Fredericksburg’s Emancipation Highway, lined with shopping centers and intersecting roads, is a place where stop-and-go traffic and lane changes are common during the evening commute, creating conditions where tempers can flare.
Spencer was booked into the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is being held without bond, police said. Authorities did not release the date of her first court appearance or any scheduled hearings. In a typical felony case, prosecutors and defense attorneys will next address bond, the scope of evidence, and whether the case advances from general district court to circuit court. Police have not said whether additional charges are being considered or whether investigators are still collecting evidence from the scene.
Police said officers provided aid to the victim until emergency medical personnel arrived. The department has not released body camera video, photographs, or other records that would show how the vehicles were positioned or the extent of damage from the reported impacts. Investigators also have not said whether the knife was recovered from Spencer, from her vehicle, or from the roadway, information that could later become part of court filings and testimony.
As of Tuesday, Spencer remained jailed without bond while the case proceeds in Fredericksburg. The next expected milestone is her initial court hearing, where a judge will review the charges and set the path for future proceedings.
Author note: Last updated March 4, 2026.