Police in Illinois are investigating the shooting death of a semi truck driver found inside the cab of his truck over the weekend.
The 58 year old truck driver was found in a truck parked on the shoulder of I-57 near Exit 345A/B in Bremen Township, Illinois, on the afternoon of Saturday, July 11, according to reporting from the Chicago Tribune.
A state trooper noticed the semi parked on the shoulder and stopped to check on the driver.
The trooper discovered the truck driver dead inside the cab from an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office has reportedly ruled the truck driver’s death a homicide.
The truck driver’s shooting death remains under investigation and no suspects are in custody at this time.
The truck driver’s identity has not yet been released.
While the motive for the shooting remains unclear, violence against truck drivers has become such a serious issue that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued guidance last week addressing the matter.
The agency wrote: “After seeing incidents of threats against truckers, FMCSA wants drivers to know that they may use the emergency conditions exception in § 395.1(b) to complete a trip without violating the hours-of-service regulations if the trip was delayed due to a civil disturbance causing a driver to reasonably fear for their physical safety. Any driver who experiences crime or violence should immediately call the police.”