Charge: Driver cut ferry loading line, rammed employee to board Bainbridge boat Court documents quote the defendant as saying, 'If some motherf**ker stands in fronta my car they're gonna get hit'

King County prosecutors say a 69-year-old man used his Mercedes to cut the ferry loading line at Seattle's Colman Dock and ram a dock attendant, then still expected to board the sailing to Bainbridge Island, cursing at ferry employees all the while. less King County prosecutors say a 69-year-old man used his Mercedes to cut the ferry loading line at Seattle's Colman Dock and ram a dock attendant, then still expected to board the sailing to Bainbridge ... more Photo: Meryl Schenker, Seattlepi.com Photo: Meryl Schenker, Seattlepi.com Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close Charge: Driver cut ferry loading line, rammed employee to board Bainbridge boat 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

King County prosecutors say a 69-year-old man used his Mercedes to cut the ferry loading line at Seattle's Colman Dock and ram a dock attendant, then still expected to board the sailing to Bainbridge Island, cursing at ferry employees all the while.

Bremerton resident David Dawson was charged last week with second-degree assault for the incident that occurred in February.

It started normally enough when Dawson purchased a fare for himself and his two passengers at 4:39 p.m., according to the State Patrol report. A Washington State Ferries employee directed him to enter a holding lane.

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However, Dawson allegedly drove toward loading traffic. When the employee yelled at him to head to the holding lane, he claimed he "wanted to get on the boat that was loading," even though he would have boarded after waiting in line, according to court records.

Dawson reportedly hurled obscene insults at the woman as he drove off, reports indicate.

A traffic attendant told authorities that Dawson's Mercedes "sharply" pulled out of the holding lane, passed about four cars and approached the ferry "at a fairly quick rate of speed in an erratic manner," State Patrol reports said. The attendant had to stop the traffic he was directing so those cars wouldn't hit the Mercedes.

He then turned to find the vehicle approaching a dock attendant. That employee held up his hands and yelled for the driver to stop, reports indicated. However, the Mercedes sped up and hit the employee, who rolled up onto the hood and fell to the ground. The Mercedes slowed, then sped up again.

The incident stopped the vehicle loading process and blocked the Mercedes from boarding the ferry, according to the State Patrol.

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The rammed dock attendant fell from the Mercedes' hood and hit his wrist, back and head on the transfer span connecting the boat to the dock, court records said. The attendant stood up again and tried to stop the vehicle, and the driver sped up like he was going to run the man over again, a witness told authorities.

The victim claimed that Dawson asked him, "Why did you jump on my car?"

The ferry worker said that while trying to stop the Mercedes and making eye contact with its driver, he "could see a look of fury on his face as he quickly accelerated."

When another ferry employee approached Dawson, he allegedly claimed, "If some motherf**ker stands in fronta' my car they're gonna get hit."

The State Patrol responded to the incident. A trooper arriving at the scene reported he heard Dawson yelling at employees, "F**king move so I can get on the boat."

Dawson allegedly told the trooper he was tired of waiting to board the ferry, so he got out of line and pulled around the other cars. He did hear employees yelling at him to stop, but he wanted to get on the boat, according to court records.

The attendant who was hit suffered a large bump on his head and swelling and discoloration on his left hand. He suffered a concussion for about 2 1/2 months, reports said.

Dawson has been allowed to remain out of custody as the case against him proceeds.

SeattlePI reporter Lynsi Burton can be reached at lynsiburton@seattlepi.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LynsiBurton_PI. Find more from Lynsi here.