Life sentence for trucker in fatal shooting of fellow truck driver at Pennsylvania truck stop

A former truck driver was sentenced in the shooting death of a fellow truck driver at a truck stop in Pennsylvania in 2024.

On February 18, 2026, the Berks County District Attorney announced that former truck driver Travis Pugh, 57, of Florida, was sentenced to life in prison to be followed by a sentence of three to ten years.

In January 2026, Pugh was convicted on a charge of first-degree murder following a three-day jury trial.

The murder charges against Pugh stem from an incident that occurred at a Love’s truck stop near Shartlesville, Pennsylvania, shortly before 3 a.m. on March 22, 2024.

Police said that an argument erupted as truck driver James Hilton, 40, of New Jersey, was helping another truck driver park in a spot at the Love’s.

During the argument, Pugh shot Hilton and then fled the scene in his semi truck.

Hilton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police located and arrested Pugh shortly after the shooting.