A Queens driver used a meat cleaver to assault another motorist following a minor traffic collision early Thursday morning, authorities reported. The incident occurred near the intersection of 26th Avenue and 127th Street in the College Point neighborhood at approximately 5:35 a.m.

According to police, the two drivers became involved in a verbal dispute shortly after a fender-bender. The situation escalated when the attacker armed himself with a meat cleaver and struck the 47-year-old victim multiple times, including repeated blows to the back of the head. The assailant also inflicted cuts to the victim’s chest and left arm before fleeing the scene in a white vehicle. The suspect remains unidentified and at large.

Emergency medical personnel transported the victim to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens, where he received stitches to treat his injuries. A family member, who requested anonymity, said the victim was conscious and alert several hours after the attack, though he was experiencing pain in his lower thigh area.

The victim resides in Staten Island and serves as a caretaker for his elderly father. Relatives expressed shock over the violent encounter, describing him as a calm and well-mannered individual unlikely to engage in confrontations. The nephew said the incident was alarming not only for the sudden escalation but also because the attacker appeared to be carrying a dangerous weapon in their vehicle, which was then used against a stranger.

Police continue to investigate the assault and seek the driver responsible for the attack. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation remains open.