Truck driver pistol whipped, shot at, at Kentucky welcome center

Police are on the search for a man who assaulted a truck driver with a pistol at a Kentucky welcome center earlier this week.

The incident occurred on December 5th at approximately 6 p.m. in Whitley County, Kentucky.

According to 1057 News, the truck driver was traveling north on I-75 when he “was engaged by a hostile motorist.” The truck driver then pulled over at a welcome center, 1 mile from the Kentucky-Tennessee state line, and the motorist followed him, leaving his vehicle to confront the truck driver. The motorist then assaulted the trucker, “pistol whipping” him with the gun before firing off a round. The bullet did not hit anyone, but did strike the semi truck, leaving a small bullet hole in the body of the cab. The motorist then fled the scene.

The truck driver left the welcome center and drove to a nearby Pilot Travel Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky before calling 911.

“The truck driver didn’t know… it didn’t start with a conversation, he [the suspect] just got out of the vehicle and started pistol whipping him,” said Sheriff Colan Harrell.

Luckily, the unidentified trucker sustained only minor injuries and was treated for them on scene.

The suspect is believed to have been driving a maroon Ford Taurus and is described as a black male with a light build and dreadlocks. He is estimated at 5’8” tall and has the letter L tattooed on his neck, which resembles the L used by the University of Louisville.

The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department is urging anyone with information regarding this incident to please call Whitley County E911 at (606) 549-6017.


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