‘Incident resulted in a 10 mile trucker feud trying to cut the other one off in traffic’- Keith Kugel

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- Keith Kugel couldn’t make up his mind. He was the victim. He wanted to represent himself at trial. Then he just jumped bail and left the country.

But now, he is back and despite his protests has pleaded guilty.

The New Jersey truck driver was indicted in a local road rage incident in 2024.

Kugel, 58, Forked River, NJ,  was indicted on aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. The weapon in question was a 2019 Freightliner 18- wheeler.

At a previous hearing Kugel wanted to argue the validity of the charge. Claiming he never “made contact” with the car who had called police for assistance, he asked “How’s that aggravated assault?” After repeatedly asking that question, Kugel got his answer from the judge. Eighth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Zach Walden told him it was not his place to provide legal advice or answer his questions.

“This is your courtroom,” Kugel said.

Agreeing that it was, Walden said Kugel could have a jury trial or a bench trial.

At that time, Kugel opted for a jury trial. On Monday, he changed course and entered a guilty plea. After agreeing he was guilty of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon involved, a sentencing date was set for Oct. 6.

The aggravated assault charge carries a sentence of three to 15 years with the reckless endangerment charge having a one to six year range, according to state sentencing guidelines.

Caryville Police were alerted to Kugel’s alleged actions on Sept. 13, 2023, when a driver on I-75 called for assistance alleging a commercial vehicle had “hit him and was attempting to run him and other motorists off the roadway,” the report said.

Police positioned themselves at Exit 134 when they saw the semi-truck, driven by Kugel, on the southbound side of the interstate, leave his lane and go into the opposite lane nearly causing a collision with another driver. Kugel allegedly continued “to swerve back and forth until he gained control” of his truck. Throughout the situation Kugel used his 18-wheeler “as a weapon” and acted “with no regard to his life or any other motorists on the roadway,” police said.

When he was stopped by the CPD, Kugel said the other driver had run him off the road which resulted in a 10 mile feud with each trying to cut the other one off in traffic. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 7/11/2025- 6AM)

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