Driver foils suspected kidnapping and gets shot at truck stop, NC police say

A midday car crash at a North Carolina truck stop happened as the wounded driver was defying two gunmen, according to investigators.

The “possible kidnapping” was reported around 1:15 p.m. Monday at the Love’s Travel Stop, near the intersection of Southfork Drive and U.S. 321 in Newton, police say.

“When officers arrived on scene, they located a vehicle that had struck a utility pole. Inside the vehicle was a man who had sustained several gunshot wounds and an infant who appeared uninjured,” police said in a May 11 news release.

“The man was removed from the vehicle, and life-saving efforts were started. He was transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, from which he was airlifted to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.”

The infant and a female linked to the incident were also taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police say.

Identities of the victims are not being released “due to safety concerns,” police said.

“The preliminary investigation indicates the male victim came to the area to meet with another individual. Upon arriving at the travel stop, an armed gunman entered the backseat of the victim’s vehicle and pointed a gun at the victim,” police said.

“A second gunman attempted to pull a passenger from the vehicle. The victim began driving away, and the passenger was ejected from the vehicle.”

A description of the suspects and details of a motive have not been released.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Investigator C. Davis with the Newton police at 828-465-7430 or cdavis@newtonnc.gov.

Newton is about a 40-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.