The two men charged in a suspected road-rage incident in Richmond chalked it up yesterday to a misunderstanding.

Richmond Education Association President Wade Ellegood, 52, and Edward C. Doyle III, 30, sat side-by-side and chatted amicably when they appeared in Richmond traffic court yesterday.

They were arrested Wednesday on charges of misdemeanor assault with a vehicle and reckless driving stemming from an incident on Interstates 95/64.

Here's what they said happened:

Ellegood said he felt a bump about 10:30 a.m. when Doyle tried to pass him on the interstate between the Boulevard and Belvidere Street exits. Thinking his vehicle had been hit, he sped up to "get [Doyle] to stop," Ellegood said.

Doyle, a project manager at a Richmond company, said he didn't realize he might have made contact with Ellegood's vehicle.

Ellegood said a state trooper appeared behind him about the same time. The trooper stopped the drivers because he believed they were trying to cut each other off, the men said.

In retrospect, Ellegood said, he understands how the incident looked to police. But, he said, "there was nothing vicious; it was not an assault."

Ellegood serves as the head of the Richmond teachers union, which represents teachers and school staff.

"Anything such as that is out of character" for Ellegood, said George P. Braxton II, chairman of the Richmond School Board. "He's a straight shooter, just a good guy."

Judge Birdie Hairston Jamison ordered Ellegood and Doyle to appear in court again June 4. Doyle also was charged with driving on the highway with a suspended or revoked license.

Richmond School Board member Carol A.O. Wolf said the men should use the incident as a learning experience.

"I hope this is one of those teachable moments for all parties, and young people especially need to take note of it and don't do it," she said. "Wade was very lucky, as was the other driver, that nothing happened."

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or jslayton@timesdispatch.com.