‘Icy Puncturer’ Stabs 296 Semi Truck Tires in Latest Series of Related Slashings

      Richard A. Brooks via Getty Images

      In what has turned into a slasher horror story for truckers, an attacker and/or imitators have been targeting truck stops and slashing tires in what appears to be random acts of big rig violence. More than 1,000 tires are believed to have been damaged since this spree began nearly two years ago, yet the perpetrator remains at large.

      Since June 2023, the individual known as the “Ice Pick Bandit” has been striking semi trucks across states including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas during nighttime hours when they are idling. The first recorded incidents took place in Florida, where at least six occurrences across various interstates were reported to the Florida Highway Patrol.

      Law enforcement suspects the individual may be a disgruntled former truck driver, although a clear motive was not established then and still isn’t known now. Semi-truck tires are costly, and while the bandit has been captured on surveillance footage, his identity remains unknown.

      “If you have 18 tires, and those tires can range from $300 to $500 each,” stated Patrick Riordan, public affairs officer for FHP Troop B, to WCJB. “This could add up to a significant amount, potentially $10,000 to $12,000.”

      This situation continues to persist, with the latest incidents involving two attacks on 18-wheelers between September 2024 and January 2025. According to Fox16, both took place at the Southfork Truck Stop along I-30 near Gurdon, Arkansas. In total, 40 trucks were targeted, leading to damage of 296 tires.

      “If the wheels aren’t turning, we aren’t earning,” said Mark Watkins, an owner-operator whose truck was at the affected site, although it was unharmed. He confirmed that replacing all 18 tires would cost around $10,000. “There’s no reason behind his actions,” he emphasized.

      Overdrive, a magazine catering to trucking owner-operators, has been tracking the Ice Pick Bandit’s activities, including those in October 2023 and September 2024. While tires are his primary target, the suspect has also damaged airbags and brake lines.

      The bandit displays a clear audacity since the trucks are parked, often idling, in well-lit areas. Drivers are typically sleeping in their cabs while he punctures tires with a handheld tool. He is described as a white male, roughly between the ages of 30 and 40, and his typical attire consists of a baseball cap, t-shirt, jeans, and gloves—all rather generic.

      The manager of the truck stop in Gurdon mentioned plans to install higher resolution, night vision cameras in case the assailant strikes again. However, the trucking community generally agrees that it would be best for the Ice Pick Bandit to surrender. “[Truckers would] love to catch him and give him a beating,” Watkins stated plainly.