Man charged in Rolling Meadows road rage attack

What started with an exchange of words between two motorists ended with one following the other into a Rolling Meadows parking lot and beating him with a metal rod, police said.

The beating victim told authorities that the other driver pulled up beside him in traffic at about 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, made an obscene hand gesture toward him and yelled at him, a police report said.

The victim pulled into a parking lot in the 1500 block of Golf Road and was followed by the other motorist, who then approached the victim's car holding a metal rod, the report said.

Police said the man stuck the rod inside the car through a partially opened window and struck the victim twice in the face with the rod. At that point, the victim exited his car, was struck in the head again and then fought back, punching and kicking the assailant and eventually grabbing the rod away from him, police said.

A Chicago man - Salman Aftab, 48, of 6403 N. Bell Ave. - was charged with aggravated assault and battery in the incident. Police said he was released on bond and is due in court next month.

It was unclear what prompted the initial exchange between the two men.