EVANSTON — Bellevue, Nebraska, semi-truck driver Harold Holder was arrested on May 27, on charges of aggravated assault and battery, and reckless driving, according to a sworn affidavit by Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Matt Arnell.

Upon arriving at a crash site near mile marker three on I-80, Arnell reportedly observed a white box truck which had rolled once, landing upright and trapping driver Ivan Petrovic, a Washington resident. Holder was waiting next to a parked semi.

Evanston Police Department officer Rebecca Landes told Arnell two people had witnessed the white box truck driving ahead of the semi in the left lane. The box truck reportedly moved into the right lane before the semi caught up with it in the left lane and pushed it off the road.

After traveling some distance alongside the semi, the box truck attempted to reenter the roadway ahead of the semi. The witnesses claimed the rear end of the box truck’s driver side hit the front of the semi. Petrovic then lost control of the box truck, veered toward the median and rolled.

Arnell reported physical evidence at the scene indicated the box truck had exited the roadway on the right before rotating 180 degrees counterclockwise and rolling.

When asked about the incident, Holder allegedly told Arnell he had been traveling in the left lane before Petrovic entered his lane and hit his passenger side mirror. Petrovic continued driving when Holder motioned for him to pull over.

Holder said he was unsure what followed, but the box truck pulled in front of him and crashed. When asked if he had entered the right lane and forced Petrovic off the road, Holder initially said he had not, then claimed he did not remember, according to Arnell.

After making several phone calls, Arnell obtained dashcam footage from the semi. While he awaited the footage, he contacted another witness who claimed he had seen the crash from one-third or one-half of a mile behind the involved vehicles.

He reported seeing the box truck attempt to pass the semi from the right shoulder of the highway before hitting the front of the semi and losing control. He said it had appeared to be a road rage incident and he believed both parties were at fault.

Arnell then viewed the dashcam footage. It showed Holder in the right lane while Petrovic was ahead on the right. As Holder began to pass, Petrovic drifted slightly into the left lane.

Holder continued to pass, steering toward the left shoulder as Petrovic moved farther into the left lane, hitting Holder’s mirror. Petrovic suddenly reentered the right lane and passed Holder, who slowed to let him by.

When the vehicles began moving downhill, Holder allegedly moved alongside Petrovic and quickly moved into the right lane, forcing Petrovic onto the shoulder. Holder slowed down, and when Petrovic reentered, he accelerated again, hitting the rear left corner of Petrovic’s vehicle, causing it to spin and then roll. After this, Holder parked his vehicle.

After viewing the footage, Arnell arrested Holder. Upon visiting Evanston Regional Hospital, he was reportedly informed that Petrovic suffered serious injuries and was LifeFlighted to the University of Utah Hospital.

Holder is scheduled to attend a pretrial conference on Oct. 29, followed by a jury trial beginning on Nov. 19.

If convicted, Holder will face up to 10 years and six months in prison and fines of $10,750.