You are here: Home » News » Man Struck With A Hammer In The Fuel Lane At Loves

Man Struck With A Hammer In The Fuel Lane At Loves

Sadie | September 13, 2012 | 12 Replies

A 62-year-old man was struck in the head with a hammer during an argument at a Loves in Corning, California.

The incident happened Tuesday evening, shortly before 10:00, when James Birrell went to confront a man who had pulled in the fuel lane behind him and kept his brights on while Birrell filled up.

The two men got into an argument and the suspect pulled out a hammer and struck Birrell in the head. Birrell suffered a laceration and concussion.

Following the incident, the suspect jumped back into his truck and drove away.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned Hispanic man, driving a green truck with a white trailer.

If you were at that Loves location and have any information on the incident, you’re urged to call the Corning Police Department at (530) 824-7000.

Tags: California

Category: News

What's Your Opinion?

James Swart says:

September 13, 2012 at 9:02 pm

It has nothing to do with being a trucker, this could have happened anywhere. This kind of story happens all the time. Humans are violent. Some more than others. He is just lucky it was not a gun. We are hearing one side of the story. How did he approach the driver that had the brights on? If he was aggressive or threatening him the driver with the bright headlights may have felt he needed to defend himself. I have grasped a hold of my hammer a couple times with the intend of driving it into another truck drivers scull before as a way to defend myself over nothing. Some people just go off over any small thing and things like this happen. He should have just finished fueling and let it go.

Robert G Earle says:

September 14, 2012 at 1:17 am

I think I have to agree with you James. We are not getting the whole story and who was the aggressor in this situation. There are too many drivers on on the road with a chip on their shoulder cause he may not be happy with whom he works for, had one too many 4 wheeler mess with him that day or we all know we can make a big list of things that can push people to the edge of doing something stupid to hurt some one who gets in their face at the wrong time. The brotherhood between drivers is almost extinct compared to what it was before the CDL came into effect. It’s really sad that this kind of violence happens between drivers who should be banning together to resolve the real problems that are going on with our industry.

Janet Newsome says:

September 13, 2012 at 5:47 pm

I am surprised there are no surveillance cameras at a Love’s. So sad this happened! And scary too!

Ray Ahner says:

September 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm

Companies hire these stupid asses, I think they need to raise the qualifications of the CDL driver, and stop just giving people a CDL, and start charging the companies for hiring truckers that are like this also!

Rick Tippie says:

September 13, 2012 at 4:32 pm

The screening is getting tougher too wth CSA now enforced. I recently gound myself out of a job after the company I was with was closed. I urge every driver, since they are being checked out by the companies, check these companies out. They have a CSA score just as the individual driver does. The higher the score, the worse their safety rating is and you do not want to work for a company wth a high rating.

Rick Tippie says:

September 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm

I could go on and on, not just confrontations, about this industry, and sadly enough, it isn’t all company issues. Drivers are unkept, do not practice good hygeine, rude, mavericks. I have been driving 25 years and see these types everyday. There is no reason for a driver to smell when he/she goes into a customer. Drivers are given free showers everytime they get 50 gallons or more of fuel. Other drivers also are willing to give a shower to another driver if they ask for it. There are laundry facilties at most truck stops, and it only takes 10 minutes a day to get your house in order. I shower everyday, I do my laundry every Sunday and I straighten up my truck everyday. I keep my truck clean and do not even wear shoes in my truck. I wear house shoes. But this is just my opinion.

Jw Barnett says:

September 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm

Always be AT THE READY for confrontational jerks, expect a hammer or worse. Never go to a knife fight without your gun….

Shannon Candy Glenn says:

September 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm

A friend of ours had the same thing happen to him, only he was robbed. If these companies would pay their people on time, and a fair amount, a lot of this stuff wouldn’t happen. Road rage, included.