A Sacramento Sikh truck driver was stabbed 17 times in an unprovoked attack at a Wyoming truck stop on Sunday morning. The attack began in the rest area bathroom at 3:30 a.m., according to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, whose last name is Singh, had stopped at the Bitter Creek rest area on Interstate 80 for a bathroom break. His attacker was another truck driver who did not respond when asked why he was being attacked.
The stabbing started when the man was punched in the back of the head. He was stabbed repeatedly until he pushed his attacker off and ran outside. A father and son followed the suspect as he tried to drive away in his tractor-trailer, calling 911 until Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers arrived.
The driver was transported by helicopter to a trauma facility. The suspect was found in Rawlins, further east on I-80, and taken into custody without incident.
Attack Location and Timing
The Bitter Creek rest area sits along a heavily traveled stretch of I-80 through Wyoming. It is a place where truckers stop to eat, rest and relieve themselves, and where a single bathroom stall became the scene of a brutal assault.
The attack happened just before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver was not wearing a turban, but he was wearing a kara, a metal bracelet traditionally worn by Sikhs. He believes his appearance may have played a role in the attack.
His attorney, Jasjit Singh, the director of legal services at the California-based Jakara Movement, said the driver feels “that may be part of the targeting.” Jasjit Singh also pointed to the fact that the attacker was another truck driver, asking “What drove this individual to do this? This is another truck driver.”
The Attack’s Setting
The Bitter Creek rest area sits along a heavily traveled stretch of I-80 through Wyoming. It is a place where truckers stop to eat, rest and relieve themselves, and where a single bathroom stall became the scene of a brutal assault.
The driver was not wearing a turban, but he was wearing a kara, a metal bracelet traditionally worn by Sikhs. He believes his appearance may have played a role in the attack.
His attorney, Jasjit Singh, the director of legal services at the California-based Jakara Movement, said the driver feels “that may be part of the targeting.” Jasjit Singh also pointed to the fact that the attacker was another truck driver, asking “What drove this individual to do this? This is another truck driver.”
The Political Context
Lawmakers have responded to the attack with concern about rhetoric from Washington affecting South Asian and Sikh truck drivers. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, Newsom’s chief deputy director of communications, said the Trump Administration “has been pushing misinformation to smear an entire workforce and target diverse communities.”
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, condemned the attack and the recent DHS post, calling it “one proof point — his hateful rhetoric is hurting our communities.”
The DHS post featured Optimus Prime from the “Transformers” franchise facing a man with the phrases “America for Americans,” “Self-deport or find out” and “Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive, Mr. Singh.” It has since been taken down.
Krishnamoorthi earlier warned the post fueled xenophobia and led representatives, including California’s Ami Bera, in demanding action from President Trump.
What Is Known So Far
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Attack location | Bitter Creek rest area on I-80, Wyoming |
| Time of attack | Just before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday |
| Number of stabs | 17 |
| Suspect captured | Found in Rawlins, taken into custody |
| Victim’s attire | Kara bracelet worn, no turban |
| Victim’s status | Survived, transported to trauma facility |
| Motive | None established |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Jasjit Singh | Attorney for the driver, Jakara Movement director |
| Diana Crofts-Pelayo | Newsom’s chief deputy director of communications |
| Raja Krishnamoorthi | Illinois Democrat, condemned the attack |
| Ami Bera | California representative, demanded action on the DHS post |
There is no known motive for the attack at this time, and there is no threat to the public, officials said. The investigation is ongoing.
The Road Ahead
The attack has drawn responses from California and Illinois lawmakers. The DHS post, now taken down, was a specific example of hostility directed at Sikh truck drivers.
The Jakara Movement, a California-based grassroots community-building organization that empowers, educates, and organizes Punjabi Sikhs and other marginalized communities, is supporting the driver.
The attack was a crime. It should be prosecuted as a crime. And the road should be safe for everyone who travels it, regardless of what they wear or where they come from.
The driver survived. That is the most important fact here.
See the video the story is built around at CBS News.
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