PROVO — A man accused of assaulting his elderly mother Tuesday afternoon is being held in the Utah County Jail on investigation of attempted homicide.

Clark Richard Wiseman, 21, was being taken to Albertsons by his mother to pick up a money order to buy a bus ticket when he began hitting her in the face, according to 4th District Court documents.

Wiseman told his mother he was going to drive, and they traded places and headed to Springville. At a stop, the mother got out of the car and tried to flag down passing vehicles for help, according to documents.

Wiseman also jumped out of the car and dragged his mother back to the car by her hair, then resumed driving back to Provo, police say, adding that as he sped along he threatened to kill her and himself.

The fighting escalated when they arrived back at her Provo home and police say he put his hands around her throat and began to strangle her.

The victim, described as elderly and frail, told police she believed she would die and tried to escape to a neighbor's house. Trying to stop the fighting, Wiseman's pregnant sister stepped in and was put in a headlock and thrown to the ground by Wiseman, police said. Wiseman was eventually arrested but not before he fought with an officer, police said. Bail on multiple charges was set at $250,000.