A new video released by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office shows a frightening road rage incident in Washington state, where a driver is seen steering a silver Ford Focus toward a child riding a small motorbike before jumping a curb and speeding down a sidewalk after him, according to NBC News reporter Dana Griffin.
Griffin reported that the child was not hurt, but officials described the encounter as “extremely dangerous,” and the woman behind the wheel is now facing several charges.
A separate video posted by the New York Post shows the same chaotic scene from a neighbor’s point of view, with the person recording repeatedly reacting in shock as the car turns toward the child, honks, reverses, and then appears to chase him along the sidewalk.
Video Shows The Car Turning Toward The Child
According to Griffin’s report for NBC News, the video was captured by a neighbor and later released by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
The footage shows the child riding a motorbike in a neighborhood when the driver begins honking repeatedly. In the clip, the person recording can be heard reacting as the silver Ford Focus turns toward the child.
“This lady is crazy,” the neighbor says in the video, according to Griffin’s report.
Moments later, the child appears to try to ride away as the car moves toward him. The vehicle then jumps the curb and speeds onto the sidewalk, coming dangerously close to the child.
The New York Post video of the incident also shows the car turning sharply toward the boy and then accelerating along the sidewalk after him. The person filming can be heard shouting in disbelief as the vehicle narrowly avoids objects in the yard and continues forward.
What makes the video so alarming is not just the reckless driving, but the setting. This was not a highway, a busy downtown street, or some confusing traffic situation where a driver made a bad split-second decision. It was a neighborhood scene involving a child, a sidewalk, and a vehicle that police say created a serious danger.
Driver Later Identified As 56-Year-Old Wendy Clemente
Griffin reported that some online coverage nicknamed the driver “Ford Focus Karen,” but officials identified her as 56-year-old Wendy Clemente.
According to NBC News, Clemente fled the scene after the incident. She was later arrested after allegedly trying to enter a random stranger’s home.
The New York Post video report, citing details from the case, said deputies had initially responded to a report of a possible burglary about a mile away after a homeowner who was not present saw someone trying to open doors on live security camera footage.
When deputies arrived, they found Clemente and the silver Ford Focus, according to the New York Post’s accompanying report.
Griffin reported that when deputies asked Clemente about the incident involving the child on the motorbike, the sheriff’s office said she told them she could not remember it. She later admitted to police that she had been drinking.
Authorities have not said exactly why Clemente allegedly drove toward the child, and NBC News reported that efforts to reach her were unsuccessful.
That unanswered question is one of the strangest parts of the case. Even in road rage incidents, there is often some obvious trigger, however irrational. Here, based on the reports, officials have not yet explained what led to a grown woman allegedly driving onto a sidewalk after a child.
Charges Include DUI And Attempted Assault
Griffin reported that Clemente now faces several charges, including DUI, attempted assault, and trespassing, according to officials.
The New York Post’s account said Clemente was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges that included first-degree attempted assault, DUI, and criminal trespass. It also reported that she was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
During the arrest, Clemente allegedly attempted to kick a patrol deputy, according to the New York Post’s account of the police report.
NBC News reported that Clemente appeared in court and was later released without having to post bond. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office told NBC News that her charges could change, though officials could not share specifics.
That detail leaves the legal picture somewhat open. The video may look clear to viewers, but prosecutors still have to evaluate the evidence, the exact charges, the alleged intent, and whatever statements or test results were collected after the arrest.
Still, the footage is likely to be central to how the public understands the case, because it shows a vehicle being used in a way that could have ended in serious injury or death.
A Neighbor’s Video Captures The Close Call
The New York Post video gives a clearer sense of the panic from the person watching the incident unfold.
As the driver honks and moves toward the child, the neighbor recording can be heard saying the woman is “crazy.” When the car drives onto the sidewalk after the boy, the person filming reacts with disbelief, saying the driver appears to be trying to run him down.
The child, meanwhile, appears to look back and then ride away as the car follows.
Griffin reported that the child was not hurt, which is the most important outcome in the incident. But that does not make the video any less disturbing, because the margin between a terrifying close call and a tragedy appears painfully thin.
A sidewalk is supposed to be the safe place. It is where kids walk, ride bikes, and move away from traffic. Seeing a car climb onto that space during a confrontation with a child is exactly why police described the incident as extremely dangerous.
Police Say She Could Not Remember The Incident
According to Griffin, the sheriff’s office said Clemente initially told deputies she could not remember the motorbike incident.
The New York Post’s account added that Clemente allegedly told deputies she had taken her dogs for a ride and was looking for other dogs to socialize with at the time.
She later admitted to consuming alcohol before the arrest, according to the reports.
If those details are accurate, they raise additional concerns about impairment, memory, and the level of danger posed before police found her. A person accused of driving onto a sidewalk after a child and then later trying to enter a stranger’s home is not just facing one bad-driving allegation; the entire sequence suggests a situation that could have spiraled further if no one had called authorities.
That is why neighbor videos and security cameras can matter in cases like this. They do not replace a full investigation, but they can preserve what happened before memories shift, suspects leave, or stories change.
A Case That Shocked Neighbors
Griffin said the “pedal to the metal” ordeal left neighbors stunned after the driver took what NBC News described as a reckless leap into serious legal trouble.
The New York Post video also shows how quickly the mood changed from confusion to alarm as the neighbor realized the car was not merely driving strangely, but seemed to be pursuing the child.
It is hard to watch footage like that without thinking about how easily it could have ended differently. A small child on a motorbike does not have much protection against a vehicle, and a driver who leaves the road for the sidewalk removes what little separation exists between a car and a pedestrian or rider.
Officials have not said whether the child knew Clemente or whether there had been any prior interaction. NBC News reported that it remains unclear why she allegedly drove toward him.
For now, the case rests on the released video, the sheriff’s office account, the charges, and whatever evidence prosecutors decide to pursue.
The Legal Process Moves Forward
Clemente has been released without posting bond after appearing in court, according to Griffin’s report, while the sheriff’s office says the charges may still change.
That means the case is not finished, and the public record may continue to develop as prosecutors review the evidence.
At this stage, the reported facts are still serious enough: a child was riding a motorbike, a driver allegedly steered toward him, the car mounted a sidewalk, and police later arrested the driver after a separate report involving a stranger’s home.
The child was not injured, but the video shows why the incident has drawn national attention. It is not just a strange traffic clip or a neighborhood dispute caught on camera. It is a case where police say a driver’s actions put a minor in clear danger.
As Griffin reported, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office called the incident extremely dangerous, and the video released by authorities makes clear why neighbors were shaken by what they saw.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
