PG&E Lineman bizarre attack

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8983259

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The victim in a bizarre attack is talking about the serious injuries he suffered. And exactly what happened when he was run down by a driver.





Jett Simmons McBride, 54, is being charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon for a bizarre attack that injured multiple people. He pleaded not guilty in a Fresno County courtroom.

The bizarre attack that took place last week would appear nothing more than just a dream to Rayshawn Neely, but the wounds bring him back to reality.

A broken right leg, and a scarred left leg, has left him bed-ridden. With his wife by his side, Neely is beginning a lengthy recovery process, after being attacked while at work.

Neely said, "I got a phone call, and as soon as I picked my phone up is when the incident happened."

On Friday, Neely, a PG&E worker was doing routine maintenance in West Central Fresno when the driver of an Oldsmobile rammed into him, pinning him between the car and his utility truck.

"It was just like a regular day, just like being blind-sided, basically is what it was," Neely said. "It was a shock, I mean, just more of disbelief, like am I in this position that I think I'm in. Is this really happening."

At first he thought it was an accident, but then he says more chaos unfolded in front of his eyes.

"I'm flipping out because I can see this confrontation going on, and I'm like hey, I don't know what's going on because I don't know if that's going to come over this way."

Investigators say the driver, Jett Simmons McBride, got out of his car and started beating Neely and others who tried to stop the attack.

That's when witnesses say McBride's passenger, who had just hitch-hiked a ride with him, clubbed the driver with the blunt end of a hatchet.

"He fell down and I can see the blood come out of his head, and I'm like oh god, this is going crazy right now," Neely said. "Now it's not only just the injury, now it's whatever is going on over there."

That's when police arrived on scene and took McBride into custody.

Neely said, "Should he pay for what he has done, yes he should, but I don't think everybody should be out there hating him though."

It will be six to eight weeks before Neely can begin therapy. But he's just grateful that he's alive, knowing the attack could have ended much worse.

Neely explained, "I tell my kids, just thank god daddy's home, you might not see him out there being active as you use to see him, but daddy's home."

Neely says he's eager to start walking again and get back to work, but realizes it could take several months.

As for McBride, his bail amount has been set to more than one million dollars. He is scheduled to be back in court next week.

When I park my truck on a road, I ALWAYS face the "wrong" way. That way when I get out, I'm on the shoulder of the road AND when I'm at the back of the truck, the cars are going by in the opposite direction. I NEVER have my ass exposed to oncoming traffic. When there are 2 of us, we are back to back.