Over the weekend, thousands of people around the world watched and shared a bizarre video featuring a bloody and scantily-clad man clinging to the hood of a semi truck — and here’s how it happened.
Meanwhile on I-95… #BecauseFlorida https://t.co/QSW7djsSPc video: Erik Morales pic.twitter.com/JFszMVFdi3
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 1, 2020
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, on the Florida Turnpike near Boynton Beach.
It began when the man, who was driving a Toyota SUV with a male passenger inside, “began acting strange” and stopped his vehicle on the southbound exit ramp in Boynton Beach.
The man crossed over into the northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike and flagged down truck driver Edward Hughes, according to TMZ.
Hughes said that after he slowed, the man climbed onto the hood of his vehicle of his own volition and began beating his windshield with his fists and head.
Hughes said that the attack on his truck caused him to panic, and he accelerated as he tried to get the man off of his hood.
The man somehow managed to cling to the truck for nine miles before troopers intercepted the truck at mile marker 95.
Police transported the man to a hospital for a mental evaluation. He didn’t suffer any significant injuries during his wild ride. No other injuries were reported.
Because no one was seriously hurt, the video may be humorous to some in hindsight. However, in recent months, there has been an uptick in violence against truckers so significant that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued guidance for drivers who encounter threatening situations — much like this one — while out on the road.