By Josh 
Police in Watauga County are searching for five individuals accused of launching a violent assault immediately after a car crash late Sunday night. According to authorities, what began as a routine traffic accident quickly escalated into chaos when a group of unidentified suspects allegedly attacked the people involved in the crash. Witnesses described the scene as “terrifying,” with screams and shattered glass echoing through the quiet rural area.
Investigators say one of the suspects reportedly hurled a large rock through a car windshield, striking one of the victims directly in the head. The injured driver was rushed to a nearby hospital with severe head trauma and remains in critical condition. Police believe the attack was deliberate, not spontaneous, sparking fears that the group may have been targeting the victims for reasons still unknown.
Officers responding to the scene found damaged vehicles, broken glass, and evidence of a physical struggle. The suspects had fled before police arrived, leaving behind a trail of destruction and confusion. Detectives are reviewing nearby surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses in hopes of identifying the attackers.
Authorities have described the suspects as five males who fled the area in a dark-colored SUV shortly after the assault. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office immediately, warning that the individuals should be considered dangerous.
As the investigation unfolds, residents are expressing shock over the brutality of the incident in what is typically a peaceful mountain community. “You never expect something like this to happen here,” one local said. “It wasn’t just an accident—it was a full-blown attack.”