Gold Coast man charged over road rage

A Gold Coast man bashed an elderly driver then stole a car and crashed it into several others on the M1 motorway before assaulting officers who tried to arrest, police allege.

The 34-year-old's spree began when his ute smashed into two cars stopped at a red light at Elanora on Friday afternoon.

He then turned on an 80-year-old motorist, seriously assaulting him and leaving him with a broken nose and bruises to his right eye and the back of his head.

The man then stole a car, crashed it into a number of others on the M1 in the Robina area before getting out and running off, police say.

He was caught at Robina a short time later and allegedly assaulted police as they tried to restrain him.

He has been charged with serious assault of a person over 60, serious assault of a police officer, dangerous operation of a vehicle and unlawful use of a motor vehicle and is due to front Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday.