A truck driver whose trailer became caught in the middle of the riots in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday tearfully described her predicament to a local news reporter as her trailer was looted.
“They’re in the trailer. They’re on the back of trailer as we speak right now,” the female driver told WSOC TV reporter Joe Bruno.
Portion of my interview with a truck driver caught in the protests @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/i1vz9GKFxn
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
Just got off the phone with the truck driver. She is still inside her truck as people loot her cargo and burn it. She fears for her life
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
She tells me… “I understand they want to make a statement but they are hurting innocent people trying to make a living.”
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
This was an absolutely horrifying interview. She kept asking me where police are. She’s trapped inside as people destroy her truck and cargo
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
Entering hour 6 of protests pic.twitter.com/VVte0cyIC6
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
In the past few hours protesters have blocked traffic on I-85 with cones and vehicles, looted trucks and burned cargo
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
Protesters are burning stuff from the trucks now. This is all happening on I-85 @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/82fdCyfCkX
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
“I understand they want to make a statement but they are hurting innocent people trying to make a living,” she told Bruno.
Bruno tweeted, “She kept asking me where police are. She’s trapped inside as people destroy her truck and cargo.”
Other bystanders in vehicles were also attacked by rioters. One family traveling on I-85 told WSOC protesters smashed their car windshield.
Riots broke out Monday following an officer involved shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a young black man that law enforcement claims to have been armed. Officer Brentley Benson, who is reportedly black as well, is said to have fatally shot Scott, Benson is now on administrative leave.
This family was traveling on I-85 when they say #CLT protesters who were throwing rocks at drivers shattered their windshield. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/Lz3Z3nU7iC
— Mark Barber (@MBarberWSOC9) September 21, 2016
At around 4 p.m. crowds began to gather and protest the incident while others started walking toward Interstate 85 and began to loot trucks and set the items on fire. A local Walmart was also broken into and looted by rioters in Charlotte. According to local law enforcement, 16 officers were injured during the riots Monday evening.