WEST MEMPHIS, AR – A semi driver who was reportedly driving the wrong way across the Interstate 55 bridge was extricated from his vehicle at gunpoint by Arkansas State Troopers, according to reports, following a physical struggle with troopers which was caught on video by a bystander.
On August 26th, Arkansas State Police responded to reports of a wrong-way driver operating a semi-truck across the Mississippi Bridge on Interstate 55, with limited details being provided by officials following the incident, including the identity of the driver involved.
However, area local Raleigh May Cupples managed to capture video footage of the police response to the incident, with state troopers seen on video struggling with the driver before removing the subject at gunpoint.
Cupples mentioned in a statement following the sharing of the footage that she was along the Tennessee side of the bridge by the time troopers arrived regarding the alleged wrong-way driver, highlighting her initial disbelief upon seeing the semi driving in the wrong lane.
“The big truck gets over in the right lane, and that’s when I see that truck,” Cupples stated, adding, “My first thought was, is this a truck hooked up to another truck pulling it?”
The woman said she regularly accesses the bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas for her commute to work, mentioning how at first she thought there may’ve been some sort of accident on the bridge when she noticed traffic slowing down.
Of course, said confusion would ultimately be clarified upon witnessing the semi-truck and troopers rushing to the driver’s side door of the cab to address the driver.
As seen in the video, one trooper literally hops over the median to confront the driver, who appears to be struggling with the trooper when attempts were made to remove the subject from the vehicle cab. Within seconds, a second trooper can be seen rushing over with a rifle in hand.
According to Cupples, additional law enforcement officers arrived at the scene during the struggle to remove the unidentified driver from the vehicle, with one officer drawing down on the suspect as other officers worked to take the individual into custody.
The witness feels as though the police response was necessary considering the circumstances, saying, “They handled it very well. I feel like the officers did what they had to do to get him out of the truck. I don’t think they used excessive force. The man refused to get out, for whatever reason.”
It's unclear what charges the unidentified driver is facing as of this writing, as officials haven’t commented beyond the surface level details of the police response to the originating incident.
On August 26th, Arkansas State Police responded to reports of a wrong-way driver operating a semi-truck across the Mississippi Bridge on Interstate 55, with limited details being provided by officials following the incident, including the identity of the driver involved.
However, area local Raleigh May Cupples managed to capture video footage of the police response to the incident, with state troopers seen on video struggling with the driver before removing the subject at gunpoint.
Cupples mentioned in a statement following the sharing of the footage that she was along the Tennessee side of the bridge by the time troopers arrived regarding the alleged wrong-way driver, highlighting her initial disbelief upon seeing the semi driving in the wrong lane.
“The big truck gets over in the right lane, and that’s when I see that truck,” Cupples stated, adding, “My first thought was, is this a truck hooked up to another truck pulling it?”
The woman said she regularly accesses the bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas for her commute to work, mentioning how at first she thought there may’ve been some sort of accident on the bridge when she noticed traffic slowing down.
Of course, said confusion would ultimately be clarified upon witnessing the semi-truck and troopers rushing to the driver’s side door of the cab to address the driver.
As seen in the video, one trooper literally hops over the median to confront the driver, who appears to be struggling with the trooper when attempts were made to remove the subject from the vehicle cab. Within seconds, a second trooper can be seen rushing over with a rifle in hand.
According to Cupples, additional law enforcement officers arrived at the scene during the struggle to remove the unidentified driver from the vehicle, with one officer drawing down on the suspect as other officers worked to take the individual into custody.
The witness feels as though the police response was necessary considering the circumstances, saying, “They handled it very well. I feel like the officers did what they had to do to get him out of the truck. I don’t think they used excessive force. The man refused to get out, for whatever reason.”
It's unclear what charges the unidentified driver is facing as of this writing, as officials haven’t commented beyond the surface level details of the police response to the originating incident.
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