Sikh truck driver stabbed 17 times at Wyoming rest stop, suspect charged with attempted murder

A Sikh truck driver was stabbed 17 times at a rest stop in Wyoming after a man allegedly followed him into a bathroom and attacked him without warning, leaving him seriously injured and hospitalised.

The driver, identified by NPR only by his surname Singh because he fears for his safety, said he remains shaken by the attack and does not understand why he was targeted.

“I don't know why this happened,” he said. “I don't know why they attack[ed] me.”

The attack took place early Sunday morning while Singh was travelling to Pennsylvania. He had stopped at the Bitter Creek Rest Area along Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming to use the restroom, a place he had reportedly visited several times before without incident.

Singh attacked inside rest-stop bathroom

Singh said he noticed a man following him as he walked into the restroom but did not initially think much of it. Moments later, the man allegedly began beating him before pulling out a knife and stabbing him repeatedly.

He suffered 17 lacerations, including wounds to his neck and chest, as well as injuries to other parts of his body. After the attacker fled, Singh managed to get outside but collapsed on the pavement after losing a substantial amount of blood.

Witnesses at the rest area heard sounds of the attack and saw a man leave the building before getting into a truck. A family at the scene followed the vehicle for a distance and photographed it, helping authorities identify and locate the suspect.

Family credited with saving his life

Singh said a Hispanic family who happened to be at the rest area came to his aid after finding him seriously wounded.

The family tended to his injuries and sought emergency assistance until first responders arrived.

“They [gave] me the second life,” Singh said.

He was taken to hospital for treatment. As of Wednesday night, he remained hospitalised with multiple lacerations and injuries to his chest and ribs, according to NPR. Later reporting said he was recovering after being treated for the 17 wounds.

The attack has also drawn attention within the US Sikh community. Community advocates have expressed concern about the safety of Sikh and South Asian truck drivers amid what they describe as increased anti-immigrant rhetoric. Authorities, however, have not established a motive for the attack.

Suspect arrested and charged

Authorities arrested 45-year-old Andrew Kris Bzdak in connection with the stabbing. He has been charged with attempted first-degree murder.

According to charging documents obtained by NPR, the documents do not identify a motive for the attack or explain what may have led to the alleged assault. His bail was set at $1 million, according to NPR-related reporting.

Wyoming authorities have said there is currently no known motive and have cautioned against drawing conclusions about the reason for the attack while the investigation continues.

Attack follows controversial DHS post

The stabbing occurred days after criticism of a now-deleted US Department of Homeland Security social media post that depicted an Indian truck driver and used the surname Singh.

The department had posted the image with the caption, “Get off our roads. You don't know how to drive Mr Singh.” The post was criticised by members of the South Asian and Sikh communities and was subsequently deleted.

The timing of the Wyoming attack has prompted concern among Sikh advocates, who have questioned whether broader anti-South Asian rhetoric could contribute to hostility towards the community. However, law enforcement officials have not linked the stabbing to the DHS post and have not established that the attack was motivated by racial or religious hatred. DHS has also rejected claims connecting its post to the stabbing.

US lawmakers condemn attack

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned the stabbing, saying he was “horrified” by the violence and expressing concern over what he described as rising hatred targeting Sikh and South Asian Americans.

In a post on X, he said, “I'm horrified by the brutal attack on a Sikh truck driver who was stabbed 17 times at a Wyoming rest stop.” He also criticised the DHS post and called for those responsible for spreading hatred and those who turn it into violence to be held accountable.

Krishnamoorthi said he was praying for Singh's recovery and thanked the family whose quick intervention helped save his life.

Rep. Mike Thompson, who represents California's 4th Congressional District, also condemned the stabbing.

“This is horrible. This incident must be thoroughly investigated and the person responsible must be brought to justice. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Singh and his family during these difficult times,” Thompson said in a post on X.