Above is the beautiful Peterbilt daycab of owner-operator Don Davis, used primarily in logging operations near Davis’ North Georgia home in Madison County — pictured well before the shooting started late last month.
You may have heard a bit of Davis’ story already in a variety of news reports that have been flying around since his loaded rig was hijacked on the job at an Oglethorpe County logging site by a man who’d severely injured a woman and was fleeing police. The girlfriend later died, and as Davis fought to resist the gunman he himself took seven bullets in the ensuing shootout with police.
A friend of the Davis family, Debbie Cofer, reached out to Overdrive via our Facebook page to make note of a fund-raising effort she spearheaded to help defray the Davises’ medical costs. “There’s a driver here in Georgia who could use some help from his fellow truckers across the country,” she wrote.
Don DavisDavis’ right hand was shattered by a bullet, she added, among other injuries, and “he’ll be out of work probably a year, his doctors say,” with his wife, Kathy Davis, supplying 24-hour care and unable to work herself.
That’s right, Davis is at least recovering well, all things considered, after the events that transpired a month ago. He’s doing so at home. Those interested can contribute to the funding campaign via this link to the GoFundMe crowd-funding site. 2400 Highway 174
Danielsville, GA 30633
Cofer also notes that for those in the Madison/Oglethorpe counties in North Georgia, the Community Baptist Church in Danielsville at 2400 Highway 174 will be hosting a “Singing for Don Davis” benefit event October 17, 4-7:30 p.m. Find more information about it at the GoFundMe page as well.
Below find a few links to local news reports about the incident and Davis’ recovery:
Athens Banner Herald on the hijacking.
Davis returns home after the incident.
News about the establishment of the fund to help the family.
Video: From the scene in the aftermath of the hijacking.
