HE STEPPED BETWEEN A STRANGER AND TWO WOMEN—THEN THE DISTU-RBING TRUTH STARTED COMING OUT! 19-YEAR-OLD FIGHTER REVEALS NEW ALLEGATIONS ABOUT BRUCE HIGHWAY DRIVER AFTER VIRAL ROAD RAGE CLASH
A teenage Muay Thai fighter who protected two women during a frightening road rage confrontation has shared disturbing new allegations about the driver involved.
Ryan McDonald, 19, went viral after dashcam footage showed him confronting a man who allegedly tried to open a woman’s car door on Queensland’s Bruce Highway.
The professional fighter has now posted an update about the incident, claiming he has since received information alleging the man has a history of violence, saying it appeared the driver was ‘not a good guy in general’.
Daily Mail has chosen not to name the alleged offender for legal reasons and to protect the identity of his alleged victims.
The confrontation began when a van reportedly attempted to merge into another lane before its driver stopped on the busy highway.
The man then left his vehicle and approached a car occupied by two young women.
+7
View gallery
Muay Thai fighter Ryan McDonald intervened after a road rage confrontation left two women fearing for their safety
+7
View gallery
Dashcam footage showed the tense highway encounter before McDonald stepped forward and helped bring the situation under control
+7
View gallery
The 19-year-old professional fighter said his main concern was ensuring both women escaped the confrontation without being harmed
Footage appeared to show the man trying to open the driver’s door before McDonald and other motorists intervened.
McDonald said his priority throughout the incident was ensuring the women escaped unharmed.
‘The main thing that come from that was at least the girls in that car were good,’ he said.
‘They didn’t get harmed. Obviously they would have been a bit frightened. But they would have got a sigh of relief once they knew that it was all under control.
‘That was the main thing, that they got home safely. That everyone got home safely.’
McDonald and the motorist exchanged words before both men removed their shirts.
However, the confrontation ended without a punch being thrown after the driver reportedly learned McDonald was an experienced fighter.
McDonald has eight victories during his fighting career, including four knockout wins.
+7
View gallery
+7
View gallery
+7
View gallery
He also responded to questions about why he removed his hoodie during the showdown.
‘A lot of people also asked me why I took my shirt off as well,’ he said.
‘Because I am aware of the situation I am in, I knew I was wearing a hoodie and no shirt underneath.
‘If we do somehow get into a fight here, I don’t want to get the hoodie pulled over my face.
‘And we were also on the highway so I didn’t want to get my shirt and like, pulled onto the road and get hit by a car.
‘So I was trying to eliminate every bad possible outcome. But it turned out being the best outcome.’
McDonald said the incident showed that trained fighters did not need to resort to violence when confronting a threatening situation.
‘It’s teaching men how they can stand up for women and how they can de-esco [de-escalate] a situation, not everything has to be physical,’ he said.
+7
View gallery
The fighter said martial arts training gave him confidence to use words instead of physical force that day
Join the discussion11 comments
What do you think is the right way to step in during a dangerous road rage situation like this?
‘Especially when you’re trained in martial arts and you know what you’re capable of. You don’t have to use it.
‘You can use your words knowing you’re confident in what you can do to someone.’
His intervention has drawn widespread praise online, particularly from women and parents concerned by footage of the man allegedly reaching for the car door.
‘As a mother of teenage daughters I pray there are always gentlemen like you within arms reach,’ one woman wrote.
‘I find that video terrifying, the way he tries to open the door. What was he about to do. Thank GOD you were there.’
Another commenter wrote: ‘Thankyou Ryan for being the voice and protection women need and the direction young men can aspire to be like.’
‘As a mum to a daughter – thank you for not even hesitating to protect them,’ a third added.
Another praised McDonald for remaining calm despite being capable of defending himself.
‘He turned kitten pretty quickly! Well managed dude,’ the commenter wrote.
One person described him as a ‘fighter with a massive heart’, while another said: ‘My bro, you dropped this,’ alongside a crown emoji.
A motorist who claimed to have passed the confrontation also praised the actions of McDonald and the other people who stopped.
‘We were driving past you guys when this was happening and wondered what was going on to cause the traffic hold up,’ the person wrote.
‘Good on you for helping out the little grey car. We noticed that you and the blue car kept her between you when you drove off.
‘Knowing now what happened, all you guys should be applauded.’
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/sport/mma/article-16029079/muay-thai-road-rage-driver-violence-women-history.html
