Truck Driver Assaulted On I-40 Saturday
The Cocke County Sheriff’s office has no idea who assaulted a truck driver on Interstate 40 last weekend. Curtis Sumpter told the sheriff’s office that on Saturday 7/12, around 12:30 pm, he was driving his red 18 wheeler eastbound on I-40 and was approaching where the interstate goes down to just one eastbound lane when a white Tesla, cut in front of him. He stated that when they got to one lane, the Tesla stopped and the black male driver and black female passenger got out of their car and came back to his truck. Sumpter ways that the black male opened his driver door and pulled him from the cab of his truck and started assaulting him. Video footage from the truck’s dashcam caught part of the incident and showed the unknown black male swinging at Sumpter, who was by that time on the ground in front of his truck. Sumpter was able to push the male subject off him and the pair got back in their Tesla and drove off.
Sumpter says he called 911, but when he did, he got Haywood County NC and not Cocke County. Haywood County 911 advised Sumpter he would have to call Cocke County authorities as that is where the assault took place. Sumpter says he was unable to get the tag number off the Tesla. If you have any information about this incident on I-40 Saturday contact the Cocke County Sheriff’s office.