A Brentwood physician charged Friday with stopping his car suddenly in front of two cyclists was investigated earlier this year in another case of road rage against bicycles, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Christopher Thomas Thompson, 59, was charged with two felony counts each of reckless driving causing injury and battery with serious bodily injury in connection with a July 4 crash.
The LAPD said that Thompson was involved in a similar crash March 11.
Prosecutors allege that on July 4, Thompson slammed on the brakes of his red Infiniti sedan in front of two cyclists riding downhill on Mandeville Canyon Road. Authorities said the impact flung one cyclist through the car's rear window and the other to the pavement.
The July 4 crash has generated much debate in Los Angeles biking circles.
LAPD Capt. William Eaton described the March collision as a "road rage incident with two cyclists" that had "strong similarities" to the July crash.
In March, two cyclists riding on Mandeville Canyon Road accused Thompson of running them off the road and then shouting at them. Detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles city attorney's office, which declined to file charges against Thompson.
Thompson, through his attorney, has denied wrongdoing.
Peter Swarth, Thompson's attorney, said in a statement about the July crash today: "We regret that charges were filed today against Dr. Thompson. The incident was an unfortunate accident and was absolutely not a case of 'road rage,' as some have suggested. Dr. Thompson continues to wish for the injured cyclists speedy recovery."
Swarth did not comment on the March incident.
Patrick Watson, one of the cyclists in the March crash, said in an interview that he and another rider had narrowly avoided hitting the rear of Thompson's car after the physician suddenly braked.
Watson sent an e-mail the day after the incident to fellow cyclists describing what he claims happened: He "ran me off the road and as I jumped back onto the pavement he slammed on his brakes right in front of [us]."
Watson said he skidded to the right of the car as the other cyclist skidded to the left, "right into on-coming traffic." The motorist drove right at the other cyclist, who then punched the car, Watson said. "He then drove straight at me."
Mandeville Canyon Road is a popular weekend route for cyclists.
