Cops believe a motorist who cut off a pickup truck in traffic ended up in the hospital, possibly as a result of the pickup driver running him over in a fit of road rage.

On top that, the driver of the GMC Sonoma didn't stop, turning a collision into a case of felony hit-and-run, according to the LAPD. Now the driver of said truck is behind bars, cops say:

It happened Sunday about 3:25 p.m. when the motorcycle “abruptly conducted a lane change in front of the pick-up truck” as both headed north on Vineland Avenue near Morrison Street in North Hollywood, according to an LAPD statement.


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The white pickup collided with the bike, severely injuring its rider, according to the LAPD. The driver took off, cops alleged:

The driver of the pick-up truck was followed by a witness. The driver left the pick-up abandoned and fled on foot.

The 44-year-old victim from North Hollywood was in stable condition at a hospital, police said.

The department last night said the collision was a case of “road rage,” but when we asked Officer Bruce Borihahn if detectives believe the truck driver hit the biker on purpose, he said, “We don't know if he hit him on purpose or not.”

A suspect, identified as 39-year-old Mauricio Lopez of Sun Valley, was tracked down and arrested yesterday on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail, the LAPD says.

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