In a bizarre turn of events, two drivers from Michigan got out of their vehicles and shot at each other, as a violent bout of road rage escalated to a fatal point, at a drive-in car wash parking lot.

Both driver reportedly get down from their respective vehicles and exchanged gunshots, in a fatal altercation that took both lives.

The victims, Robert Taylor, 56, and James Pullum, 43, were both driving down a Ionia, Michigan Highway, when Taylor's vehicle started to closely follow Pullum's, witneses said.

Raylor and Pullum eventually chose to settle matter by pulling up to the parking lot of Wonder Wand Car Wash, whereupon both open fired at each other.

Each exchanged eight to nine gunshots.

The two men were sent to the Sparrow Ionia Hospital, whereupon they were both pronounced dead on arrival, around 7 pm, say the authorities.

Police officers have told the media that they could not release information as to which of the men fired their guns first.

Pullum's mother and wife were witnesses to the shooting, being passengers in his Ford Taurus at the time of the altercation, but Taylor was reportedly alone.

Robert Taylor apparently had a history of violence behind him: in 2006, he was convicted with a misdemeanor while driving under the influence of alcohol, and another for concealing a gun in his car, which in turn revoked his weapons license. He applied for a new license after four years, in 2010.

James Wood, owner of the car wash, says he knew both of the drivers well, and reports that both men had been well-regarded in their respective communities.

Death by gunshot wounds has been confirmed as the cause of death for both men, as according to the Ionia Public Safety Department. They are also waiting for the results of the autopsy as well as toxicology reports that would indicate if drugs or alcohol factored in the shooting.