A truck driver was severely injured in a violent attack on February 15th at a rest area in Cochise County, Arizona. The attack happened late at night at the San Simon rest stop, leaving the driver, known only as Jack, with critical brain injuries.
The aftermath: Jack remains on life support at a hospital. His wife, Jennifer, shared her concerns about the lack of security and called for installing surveillance cameras at rest stops to help solve and prevent crimes.
- "If you had a camera, it would be easy to find the guy," Jennifer told News4Tucson.
- The Cochise County Sheriff, Mark Dannels, supports this call, stating cameras would aid in bringing justice to victims.
The state response: The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) does not currently plan to install cameras at rest areas. They cite the remote locations and maintenance challenges, reported KVOA News. ADOT maintains that crime at these sites is rare and advises vigilance.
The call for action: Sheriff Dannels argues that if preventative measures aren't implemented, the state should reconsider the existence of such unsecured areas. He believes the caretakers at these stops shouldn't be responsible for security, emphasizing, "They’re not there to secure, they are there to clean."
The investigation into the attack is ongoing. Authorities continue to seek leads to bring the perpetrator to justice. As of now, there's no timeline for improved security measures at the rest area.