Amazon delivery driver charged after striking 71-year-old at California gas station
Surveillance video shows Amazon driver Terrence Wheeler assaulting a 71-year-old man over a parking spot at an Elk Grove gas station, leading to elder-abuse and assault charges.
Authorities posted surveillance from an ampm convenience store in Elk Grove that records 30-year-old Terrence Wheeler, then an Amazon delivery driver, arguing with a 71-year-old customer over a parking stall on March 30. After threatening the man, Wheeler struck him on the side of the head as he walked by, knocking him to the ground. The incident was captured on video and released weeks later.
Wheeler turned himself in that afternoon and was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of felony elder abuse, felony criminal threats and misdemeanor battery; his next hearing is scheduled for September 24. The senior’s lawyers have filed a lawsuit demanding $10 million in damages from Wheeler and Amazon. Amazon clarified that Wheeler was employed by an independent business that contracts with the company, not by Amazon directly.
Why it matters
The case highlights legal risks for gig-economy contractors and raises questions about employer responsibility for independent drivers.
In this story
