The victim said he was driving slowly because of speed tables on Wilson Avenue.
VALLEJO, Calif. — A traffic dispute on Vallejo’s waterfront escalated Monday when a woman got out of her car and pepper-sprayed an Army veteran through the window of his work truck, police and the victim said.
The victim, Joe Vallely, said the confrontation began while he was driving a bucket truck on Wilson Avenue, a waterfront road where new speed tables slow traffic. Cellphone video captured the woman approaching the truck moments before the spray entered the cab. Vallejo police said they believe they know who the woman is and will send their findings to Solano County prosecutors.
Vallely said he noticed a Nissan Altima behind him as he drove through the area about 9:20 a.m. Monday. He said the driver followed closely and appeared upset that he was moving slowly. Vallely said the truck’s size and the road design left him little choice. “I’m driving the bucket truck slow because it’s big and old and heavy,” he said.
The road widened near Hichborn Street, and Vallely said the woman drove around him, stopped in front of him and forced him to brake. He said vehicles behind him also had to react quickly. The video shows the woman walking toward the truck and speaking before spraying a chemical into the driver’s window. Vallely said he had not threatened her and wanted to avoid contact.
Vallely said the spray hit him directly in both eyes. He shouted in pain on the recording, then drove to a nearby store to rinse his face. He later went to Kaiser Permanente, where medical workers flushed his eyes. The full extent of any injury was not immediately clear.
The location of the attack has drawn attention because Vallejo recently added speed tables on Wilson Avenue after complaints about speeding. The street’s normal speed limit is 30 mph, but drivers slow to 15 mph at the raised sections. Vallely said those traffic controls were a key reason he was driving carefully.
Police have not released the woman’s name, and no charging decision had been announced Wednesday. The next step is review by the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether the evidence supports criminal charges.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.