83-year-old attacked in fit of road rage outside Kroger, Michigan cops say

Bystanders came to the aid of an 83-year-old man who Michigan authorities say was violently attacked outside a Kroger store.

The Dearborn Police Department said a fit of road rage led to the July 4 incident and the arrest of another driver.

According to a Facebook post, George “Judo” Whittaker broke his hip and has a possible concussion after the attack.

Whittaker told WXYZ he pulled out of the Kroger parking lot but attempted to turn back into the lot to drop off mail, angering a driver behind him.

The other driver got out of his car and got in the face of Whittaker, who told WXYZ he was “only an inch away.” As they began to fight, Whittaker fell hard to the ground.

Whittaker was taken to a hospital with injuries, according to police.

Police said the driver fled the scene in a pickup truck. Meanwhile, “several concerned citizens” provided aid to Whittaker and gave officers information about the accused attacker.

The driver was identified due in part to local businesses, which provided surveillance footage to officers, according to police

The police department said the driver was taken into custody July 5.

He was identified by WWJ as 55-year-old John Kreitner and was charged with aggravated assault.

“This incident is a reminder that violence on our roadways will not be tolerated,” Police Chief Issa Shahin said in a statement. “We are grateful to the good Samaritans and local businesses who quickly stepped up to support our investigation and bring the suspect into custody.”

This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 12:42 PM with the headline "83-year-old attacked in fit of road rage outside Kroger, Michigan cops say."