DA: Man charged after stabbing driver who killed his mother

WATERTOWN, Mass. — A man has been charged in connection to a stabbing assault after his mother was killed by a tow truck Wednesday afternoon, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.

Benita Horner, 68, was killed when the tow truck ran her over as she crossed the street in Watertown Wednesday. Witnesses told Boston 25 News her son then jumped in the cab of the truck and repeatedly stabbed the driver.

That man has been identified as Philip Horner by investigators, who say the 38-year-old has been charged with armed assault with intent to murder in connection to the stabbing.

The 60-year-old driver of the tow truck was hospitalized with serious injuries. He has not yet been identified and police have not said if he faces any charges in the death of Benita Horner.

In a court hearing Thursday afternoon, Phillip Horner was ordered held at Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation before his case will move forward.

Watertown Street, near the start of Nonantum Road, was temporarily shut down for the investigation.

Witnesses told Boston 25 News a man and his mother were crossing the street when she was hit by a tow truck.

“I couldn’t get my eyes off the body it was such a horrific scene," said Gary Cantanese, a witness. “The next thing I hear is some guy screaming, 'You ran over my mother, you ran over my mother, you ran over my mother!' The next thing I see is him running across the street jumping up on the platform of the truck and attacking the tow truck driver.”

Cantanese said he saw the young man go after the driver as the distraught driver attempted to explain he hadn't seen her.

The Middlesex County District Attorney's office said the driver was stabbed five times in the abdomen and remains in critical condition in the hospital.

That’s when people in a nearby restaurant said the man who stabbed the truck driver ran in, lay down and began screaming.

"I told them, this is the suspect right here on the floor. He was lying on the floor, screaming, yelling," said Zeidan Taha.

Taha and his brother say the driver tried to escape, even as the woman's son chased him.

"Running for his life, and told the guy 'I didn't see her, I didn't see her.' He was trying to defend himself, it wasn't like he did it on purpose," said Moe Taha.

Watertown Street reopened Wednesday evening.

MORE: Woman killed by truck, son stabs driver in Watertown incident, witnesses say

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