Singh, a Northern California truck driver, was attacked at 3:27 a.m. on Sept. 13 at the Bitter Creek Rest Area on I‑80 in Wyoming and sustained 17 stab and cut wounds. Bystanders followed and photographed a fleeing tractor‑trailer, giving police the information that helped troopers arrest 36‑year‑old Andrew Kris Bzdak, who now faces an attempted first‑degree murder charge and is held on $1 million bond. Authorities say no motive has been established and have found no evidence to label the assault a hate crime, though Sikh community leaders expressed concern. Singh was flown to a trauma hospital, spent five days in Casper, and is recovering at home.
Sikh Trucker Stabbed 17 Times at Wyoming Rest Area; Bystanders Followed Fleeing Semi, Suspect Charged
Image Credit: CBS News Sacramento / YouTube.
A Northern California truck driver who identified himself publicly only by his surname, Singh, was seriously wounded in a predawn attack at the Bitter Creek Rest Area on Interstate 80 in Wyoming on Sept. 13, officials said.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper responded shortly after 3:27 a.m. and found Singh with multiple cuts and stab wounds. Charging documents and media reports indicate he suffered 17 wounds, including injuries to his neck and chest, and was later flown to a trauma center in Casper.
Singh told representatives of the Jakara Movement and his attorney that the assault began when another man entered the restroom, approached him from behind, and struck him in the head. Singh asked why he was being attacked, his attorney said, but his assailant offered no response. Singh then noticed a knife.
Witnesses Chase Fleeing Truck
People outside the men’s room heard screaming and saw a man run toward a tractor‑trailer. Instead of letting the truck leave, a family followed the vehicle long enough to photograph identifying details and relay them to law enforcement. Video from another truck at the rest area later showed Singh entering the restroom followed by a man identified by police as Andrew Kris Bzdak. The footage also captured Singh stumbling and falling as he emerged.
Arrest and Charges
Troopers tracked the tractor‑trailer eastbound toward Rawlins, located the vehicle down the highway and arrested the driver without incident. Prosecutors charged Andrew Kris Bzdak with attempted first‑degree murder; he was held on $1 million bond, according to media reports. Bzdak has not been convicted; the charge is an allegation that must be proven in court.
“We have zero motive,” Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jeff Sheaman told local outlets, noting investigators had found no evidence at that time to classify the attack as a hate crime.
Community Concerns and Context
Singh and Sikh community advocates have raised concerns that his appearance or faith could have played a role. CBS reported Singh was not wearing a turban during the attack but was wearing a kara, the steel bracelet many Sikhs wear. Authorities say they have found no public evidence linking the assault to Singh’s religion or ethnicity.
Those concerns were heightened by a Department of Homeland Security social media post days earlier that referenced the surname “Singh” while criticizing a truck driver involved in a fatal Florida crash; Sikh trucking representatives argued the post unfairly generalized a common Sikh name. Officials emphasize there is currently no public evidence tying that post to the Wyoming attack.
Aftermath
Singh spent five days hospitalized in Casper before being discharged to recover at home. His representative said he hopes to eventually resume driving through Wyoming despite the trauma and increased fear caused by the assault. Members of the family who followed the tractor‑trailer are credited with providing crucial identifying information that helped law enforcement locate and arrest the suspect.
Note: All facts in this report are based on law enforcement releases, charging documents and media reports. The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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