HOUSTON, TX – An emergency room nurse was assaulted while waiting in the drive-thru line at a Whataburger in Houston’s Southside neighborhood on Sunday evening. The incident began when the nurse, Kaci Bruce, accidentally bumped into the SUV in front of her.
Bruce, 29, had just finished a long shift and was looking forward to a quick meal. She ordered her usual: a number 13 with fries, a cinnamon roll, and a root beer. As she waited in the drive-thru line, she mistakenly thought her car was in park and took her foot off the brake, causing her vehicle to roll forward and lightly tap the SUV ahead.
What followed was a shocking escalation. Bruce rolled down her window to apologize, but the driver of the SUV was not in a forgiving mood. The woman exited her vehicle, began shouting profanities, and demanded Bruce move her car back. The situation quickly turned violent when the woman opened Bruce’s car door and struck her twice, leaving her with a busted lip and a broken blood vessel in her eye.
The assault was captured on video, showing the second blow. Bruce, disoriented and frightened, chose to remain anonymous in interviews due to concerns for her safety. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she lived in the same area as me,” Bruce said, expressing her fear of encountering the assailant again.
After the incident, Bruce inspected her car for damage but found none. The Houston Police Department is now seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the woman involved. The suspect is described as being in her late 30s to early 40s and was driving a dark-colored SUV, possibly a dark blue Mercedes.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward and contact the police. This unprovoked attack has left the community shaken and highlights the unpredictable nature of seemingly mundane situations.