A truck driver has been arrested for allegedly attacking another driver in what police suspect was a road rage incident at a truck stop on the New Jersey Turnpike last month.
Investigators Believe Road Rage Led To Savage Truck Stop Beating
Arnold Eckhardt, 50, of North Carolina is facing charges of aggravated assault. Police believe that he administered a severe beating that left a 60-year-old New York truck driver hospitalized for an extended period of time.
The victim believes that an incident occurred on the while driving Turnpike between himself and Eckhardt, but he isn’t sure exactly what happened.
According to police reports, both drivers had just pulled into the truck stop when Eckhardt yanked the victim from his cab and severely assaulted him, punching and kicking his head. They believe that road rage caused the incident.
Truck Driver Still Recovering From Assault
By the time police arrived, around 8:30 p.m., they found the victim on the scene in critical condition. The victim required emergency surgery and spent an extended amount of time in the hospital. He is currently in a rehabilitation center, still recovering from his injuries.
Though police say Eckhardt fled the scene, they were able to identify him from surveillance video and witness accounts.
Driver Held on $250,000 Bond
The U.S. Marshals Service helped local authorities locate and arrest Eckhardt. He was pulled over in his truck in Cedar Springs, Georgia, on Saturday morning and arrested.
He is being held in Georgia but will be extradited to New Jersey. His bail is set at a quarter of a million dollars.
Source:
NJ.com
