Tow truck driver beaten, stabbed weeks ago still recovering from attack

The tow truck driver beaten, stabbed, robbed, and left unconscious on the side of I-70 is still trying to recover.

It’s been exactly two weeks since Al Baker was viciously attacked while trying to help what he thought was a broken-down car on I-70.

He told ABC 17 News that ever since the driver and passenger of the green Ford Taurus got out and beat him, he’s had daily seizures and terrible headaches on top of recovering from stab wounds and bruises.

And to top it off, the men broke his neck, which he’ll get surgery on on Friday.

“I can’t work, I can’t do anything. I just sit here and answer the phones and then I get headaches and I gotta go home because I know what’s going to happen,” Baker said.

Despite his head injuries and resulting medical problems, Baker has no problems with his memory. He remembers that night up until the men repeatedly kicked him and knocked him unconscious.

“I saw a green Ford Taurus pulled over on I-70 with their lights flashing. It was only 7 degrees so I thought I’d see if they needed help and pulled over,” Baker remembered. “The driver got out and when I saw the knife and he stabbed me that first time, I knew I was in trouble. I tried to fight back but then the other man got out and hit me on the head with a pipe.”

Since that Tuesday night attack, Baker has been in the hospital for at least 8 days because of his original stab wounds and bruises, and later because of his seizures. But his hospital visits caused by the attack aren’t over yet.

“They crushed 2 vertebrae in my neck and I’ll get operated on this Friday,” Baker explained. “They’ll replace the vertebrae with artificial ones.”

Beyond all the physical damages the men have caused, they’ve done a number on Baker’s business, too.

“Business has slowed down bad because everyone in the community knows I’m not here,” Baker said. “But I want them to know everything will be done just the same as if I was here, if not better, while I’m recovering.”

But even with the numerous bruises and overwhelming hospital bills reminding him daily of what happened, he has no plans to stop helping people any time soon.

“Heck no. I just helped somebody last night only about two miles away from where I was attacked,” he said.

Baker said he has an excellent support system made up of family, friends, coworkers, and community members that has made a huge difference in helping him recover. He said even competing tow truck drivers are looking out for him and trying to help find the two attackers.

Police said they have no leads on who these two men could be. All they know is that they are two white men around 6 feet tall driving a green Ford Taurus.