Truck Driver Trapped In I-85 Riots Said She Feared For Her Life

by Jana Ritter - Published: 9/21/2016

“They’re in the trailer. They’re on the back of trailer as we speak right now,” said a female truck who was caught in the middle of riots in Charlotte N.C. Tuesday night. Trapped in her truck, she gave her account on live TV to WSOC reporter Joe Bruno, who stayed on the phone with her throughout the ordeal. “She kept asking me where police are,” Bruno said. “She’s trapped inside as people destroy her truck and cargo.”

                                                             

The riots broke out following yet another officer involved shooting, a continuing issue that has been escalating protests across the nation. In this latest incident, police officers were at an apartment complex to serve an arrest warrant when they came upon 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, who was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of the building. Although he was not the person they were looking for, officers claim he stepped out of his vehicle allegedly holding a firearm. They said he got back inside his vehicle and then remerged, still holding a gun. While it is still unclear what exactly transpired next, officer Brentley Benson, (who is reportedly also black) fatally shot Scott. While police claim Scott was perceived to be a threat and was given clear commands prior to the shooting, his family claims that he was not in possession of a weapon and was simply reading a book in his car, waiting for his son to return home from school. Officer Benson is now on administrative leave from the job as the investigation continues.

                                                            

But as news of the shooting broke out, crowds of protestors began gathering at around 4pm and the demonstration escalated over the next six hours. Many protestors descended upon upon the Interstate 85 and eventually blocked traffic as they crowded the busy freeway. Then the protest took a violent turn and terrified motorists and truckers were trapped in their vehicles. In addition to smashing windows of vehicles and patrol cars, the rioters even broke into several tractor-trailers and began looting and burning the cargo right in the middle of the freeway. The female truck driver, who spoke with reporters while trapped in her cab said that she feared for her life and kept asking if police were on the way.

“I understand they want to make a statement but they are hurting innocent people trying to make a living,” she told Bruno during their phone conversation.

While police did emerge on the scene and tried to control the violence, at least 12 officers were injured in the chaos. Seven bystanders were also injured and many vehicles were damaged. A Charlotte Walmart was also broken into and looted by rioters. On Wednesday, city officials tried to calm residents assuring that the incident was being thoroughly investigated. But Charlotte residents are worried about a repeat of Tuesday’s violence.

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