Trucker leaves co-driver at truck stop, rips out GPS, and takes truck after getting fired

A truck driver received only a citation after stealing a semi truck and abandoning a co-driver in response to getting fired on Thursday. 

The incident happened on the morning of December 18th in Linn County, Oregon. 

According to KEZI 9, 22-year-old Jamari Bars, a team truck driver, was fired on Thursday morning while OTR. A short time later, the driving team stopped at a truck stop on Highway 34 near Interstate 5 so that the other driver could use the bathroom. During that time, Bars removed the GPS on the truck, threw it out the window, and drove away, leaving his co-driver. 

After leaving the truck stop, Bars allegedly disconnected the trailer and left it on the shoulder of Interstate 5. The trucking company then reported the truck stolen, and Bars was located on southbound I-5 near Corvallis. 

The trucking company chose not to press charges for the stolen semi truck, but did choose to press charges for the stolen GPS. Bars was not arrested, but received a citation for second-degree theft.