A truck driver who was stabbed by his co-driver earlier this month in Indiana has died as a result of his injuries — and police have released more information about the events leading up to his death.
Fifty-five year old Florida-based truck driver Angel Cruz passed away as a result of injuries sustained during an August 16 in-cab altercation on eastbound I-70 near Richmond, Indiana, with his co-driver.
When police arrived on the scene in response to calls about a disabled semi truck on the shoulder, they found Cruz in the cab of the truck suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper torso and neck. He was taken to the hospital following the attack and underwent emergency surgery but died days later.
Stabbing investigation closes eastbound I-70 in Wayne County https://t.co/gDpgDR7zuW pic.twitter.com/hpZi5K1krG
— indy.news (@indpls) August 17, 2019
Police arrested 47 year old co-driver Pavel Nery-Gonzalez on the scene, initially on charges of suspicion of attempted homicide. Since Cruz died from his injuries, police have upgraded the charges against Nery-Gonzalez to a homicide charge.
Police have also released more information about the circumstances surrounding the brutal attack.
Authorities say that Nery-Gonzalez and Cruz had been operating as team drivers for a three month period and were hauling produce from Chino, California, to a location in New York when the stabbing occurred.
Police also said that when officers arrived on the scene, Nery-Gonzalez stepped down out of the truck, handed over a blood-covered knife, and told Wayne County Sheriff’s Patrolman Shane Brown, “I stabbed him,” and surrendered.
Following the admission about stabbing his co-driver, there has been no further explaination about the motive or events leading up to the stabbing.
The incident closed down eastbound I-70 for approximately 5 hours.
Nery-Gonzalez is being held in the Wayne County Jail without bond.