FRESNO, Calif. — A Pacific Gas & Electric worker rammed by a driver from Tacoma has a broken leg and will need to remain in Community Regional Medical Center for a couple of more days, officials say.
The 37-year-old worker, who has been with PG&E for five years, asked not to be identified. He was talking to family members and in good spirits Saturday, said Denny Boyles, PG&E spokesman.
“It’s not his belief that anyone should be angry with the driver,” Boyles said. “He just hopes the man gets the help he needs.”
Fresno County sheriff’s deputies arrested Jett Simmons McBride, 54, of Tacoma on suspicion of ramming his car into the worker. McBride was booked into the Fresno County Jail early Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder. His bail was set at $1 million.
According to sheriff’s officials: About 2 p.m. Friday, McBride drove his car toward a PG&E work crew, wedging workers between two vehicles west of Highway 99 in Fresno.
McBride had picked up a hitchhiker, who said McBride was making racist remarks when he came upon the PG&E workers, one of whom was black.
Police say McBride lodged the black worker between his car and the work truck, got out of his car and began beating the worker and attacking others who tried to stop him. The hitchhiker then got out of the car and started hitting McBride with a hatchet, officials said.
Witnesses say the hitchhiker eventually knocked out McBride, who is 6 feet 4 and weighs 290 pounds, according to jail records.
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