An Illinois truck driver, Alexander Tuttle, has been charged with felony aggravated assault after allegedly sideswiping a man’s pickup truck on the highway near Gillette, Wyoming.
The Campbell County Attorney’s Office upgraded Tuttle’s case to felony court, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Tuttle is scheduled for arraignment on December 17 at the Campbell County District Court.
According to an evidentiary affidavit created by Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Kyle Hawn, statements from the victim and witnesses, along with physical evidence, indicate that Tuttle is responsible for the incident.
On the morning of November 28, Hawn responded to a report of a hit-and-run on Highway 50. He found the victim’s white pickup truck damaged and sitting on the sidewalk. A Gillette Police officer had already collected witness statements and photos from nearby motorists.
The victim reported that he was driving south at 45-50 mph, with another pickup in the left lane and a black pickup ahead of him. Suddenly, he noticed Tuttle’s speeding semi-truck, which then swerved towards him, making contact and disabling his vehicle.
In his own account, Tuttle claimed he was driving 50-55 mph, thinking the speed limit was 55. He described how the white pickup forced him from the left lane into the right, and then back again, asserting that the white pickup swerved into him. However, a witness’s testimony contradicted Tuttle’s claims, supporting the victim’s story instead.
Further investigation revealed physical evidence of the accident that did not align with Tuttle’s narrative, including fresh tire marks and vehicle damage inconsistent with Tuttle’s claims. Upon arrest, it was noted that Tuttle’s dash camera was off, precluding any video evidence of the incident.
