x
Breaking News
More () »

Truck Driver Shot in Neck While Driving on I-40 in NC Says He's OK

"The part that really messed with me is people wouldn't stop," driver Kenneth Battle said. "I mean you see all this blood everywhere, but they wouldn't stop.

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (WNCN) - Kenneth Battle got the shock of his life when a bullet came whizzing through the window of his truck and hit him in the neck.

“It felt like somebody sucker punched me,” the 59-year-old said. “Twist my head to the left and I saw the window knocked out and I reached up and I’d been shot.”

Battle drives for Huttig Building Properties out of Rocky Mount.

RELATED | Tractor Trailer Driver Shot In Neck While Driving On I-40 In NC

“It’s a freak accident,” Battle said. “I’m fine, I’m still here running my mouth, so I’m fine.”

Battle says he was getting on the exit ramp on Interstate-40 west near NC 96 when he was shot.

Once he realized what happened he tried to wave people down, but nobody stopped. He called 911 himself. Eventually, someone helped him.

“The part that really messed with me is people wouldn’t stop,” Battle said. “I mean you see all this blood everywhere, but they wouldn’t stop.

Investigators say the bullet that hit Battle came from 24-year-old Colton Kinsey’s gun.

Kinsey made his first appearance in Johnston County court on Monday.

“Why would you shoot over the interstate? I mean, if I were coming down the road at 70 miles per hour and he shot me, think of how many lives I would’ve took,” Battle said.

Investigators say Kinsey was shooting his rifle on his family's property with an inadequate backstop and also in an unsafe direction toward I-40.

“Accidents happen,” said Battle. “I just happened to be his target. Other than that, hey, I don’t have no beef with him.”

Battle says all things considered, it could’ve been worse and he considers himself lucky.

“If the seat was a little lower, the seat was a little higher. I might not be here,” Battle said.

Before You Leave, Check This Out