Always expect the unexpected. That has always been taught to everyone involved in public safety. Around midnight on Sunday, September 7, deputies from Emanuel Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to I-16 Westbound by mile marker 94 to assist Candler County with a call for a person shooting arrows at passing vehicles. It appears a male had a psychotic episode and began attacking vehicles with some type of heavy object. Cars had windshields smashed, hoods dented and unfortunately a truck driver was beaten inside the cab of his vehicle. Numerous law enforcement units from Bulloch, Candler, Emanuel Counties along with Georgia State Patrol troopers from Post 45 and Post 19 were scattered along a one mile stretch of the interstate.
Vehicles were in the median, an 18-wheeler was off the road up an embankment. Multiple tractor trailer units were parked in various lanes. Truck drivers were talking about the attacker, who was taken into custody, jumping on the hoods of their vehicles, and striking with a weighted stick/pole like object. EMS from Candler requested a medical helicopter for the injured driver who was severely beaten. An Air-Evac helicopter landing zone was setup at the intersection of US 1 and Highway 46 in Oak Park. The victim with blunt force trauma was flown to a trauma center.
