ROCKLAND — Two women joggers knocked to the ground by a male assailant Wednesday night struck back at their attacker as he fled into the night.

Lt. Michael Collins said the women immediately recovered from being knocked off balance and managed to pummel the man with their fists before he ran from the scene.

The attack occurred on Lovejoy Street at approximately 8:30 p.m. Sisters Marie Landry, 32, and Paulette Landry, 39, both of Rockland, were jogging side by side when the young man, who appeared to be in his late teens, pushed them to the ground. The women were uninjured. Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the attack to contact them.

One hour earlier, Marion Johnson, 60, of Rockland was arrested on a charge of operating while under the influence of intoxicating liquor after being involved in a two-vehicle traffic accident at the intersection of Camden Street and Pen Bay Avenue.

Collins said Johnson was operating a 1991 Buick at 6:53 p.m. when it struck a 1982 Volvo operated by Lawrence Platt, 32, of Warren. Platt was traveling south on Camden Street when Johnson’s northbound Buick turned directly into his path at Pen Bay Avenue.

None of the four people in the Platt vehicle or the two in Johnson’s was injured. Damage to the Buick was estimated at $3,000, while the Volvo had damage estimated at $2,000.