What began as a selfless act of kindness on a Florida highway turned into a violent struggle for survival on the morning of March 30. Hans Hamilton was driving along the 429 Expressway near Walt Disney World when he spotted a Lexus that had slammed into a median guardrail.
Thinking he was coming to the aid of an injured motorist, Hamilton pulled over his Tesla, only to be met with a sudden and unprovoked assault.
Footage captured by Hamilton’s own vehicle cameras shows the driver of the crashed car, identified by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as 44-year-old Daniel Coman, lying in the grass before the confrontation began.
As Hamilton approached to help, Coman reportedly leaped up and charged the Tesla. The video shows the man jumping onto the hood and repeatedly kicking the windshield until the glass shatters.
The violence moved to the pavement, where the camera recorded Coman punching Hamilton in the head, face, neck, and back.
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“On what started as a normal day, I saw someone who appeared to be in a car accident and stopped to help, wanting to do the right thing,” Hamilton later shared in a GoFundMe post. “Instead, I was attacked, my car was destroyed, and my life was put in danger.”
The ordeal lasted until an Orange County deputy arrived on the scene just before 10 a.m. to investigate the initial crash. According to an arrest affidavit, Coman did not back down when law enforcement arrived. The deputy noted that Coman approached him with his chest puffed out in an angry and aggressive manner and attempted to shove and strike the deputy while shouting profanities.
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It took the combined efforts of the deputy, Hamilton, and another bystander who stopped at the scene to finally subdue and handcuff Coman.
The aftermath of the encounter has left Hamilton with a long road to recovery. Medical reports indicate he suffered a brain bleed, four broken ribs, a concussion, and numerous contusions. His vehicle, which sustained heavy damage to the roof, hood, and windshield, is expected to be a total loss.
“The physical pain and trauma from that day have been overwhelming,” Hamilton wrote on a GoFundMe page, noting that he is now facing tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Coman was taken to a local hospital before being booked on several charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, assault on a law enforcement officer, battery, and criminal mischief. He remains in custody as the legal process moves forward.
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