WORLD> America
Texas police investigating deadly road shootings
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-23 16:55

DALLAS – Authorities searched Monday evening for a motorist they say shot at a car and three semitrailer trucks on Dallas-area roads during the afternoon rush hour, killing two people and injuring one.

Authorities think the same man is responsible for the shootings in Dallas and the suburb of Garland. They are looking for a suspect described as a white man in his 40s, who is balding and driving a tan F-150 extended cab pickup, said Sgt. Gil Cerda, a Dallas police spokesman.

The first shooting happened around 5:45 in Garland. A pickup truck headed south on Jupiter Road pulled alongside a small Nissan that was stopped at a red light and started shooting, Garland police spokesman Joe Harn said.

The driver of the Nissan, 20-year-old Jorge Lopez of Rowlett, was killed, Harn said.

Investigators in Dallas think the suspect in the Garland shooting drove to I-635 and shot at an 18-wheeler on the highway. The driver of the 18-wheeler was not hurt, Cerda said.

From there, police think the suspect continued driving westbound on the highway and shot at the driver of a United Van Lines 18-wheeler rig. The rig driver died at the scene, said Cerda. His name was not immediately released.

After those shootings, the suspect drove about a quarter- to a half-mile and fired at another 18-wheeler. The driver was injured with debris but not struck by the bullet, Cerda said.

The driver radioed his employer while the suspect was shooting at him, Jesse Medford, terminal manager with Dugan Truck Line, said.

"I'm getting shot at! I think I'm shot!" the driver told Medford.

After telling the driver to pull over, Medford said he called 911. The driver told him that he did not know who was shooting and did not give a detailed description of the assailant, Medford said.

"He didn't say anything about any type of road rage," Medford said.

Medford did not identify the driver but said he's a longtime trucker in his 40s. The man was taken to Medical City Hospital, Cerda said. He was injured by flying glass, Medford said.