An attorney for Perry Tole told ABC News that Tole was the victim of a "violent," "unprovoked" attack from Mark Sanchez and tried to defend himself by stabbing the former NFL player.
Sanchez, a Fox Sports commentator, was initially arrested for multiple misdemeanors in connection with this weekend's confrontation in Indianapolis.
On Monday, after investigators learned of the severity of the victim's injuries, prosecutors announced Sanchez was also charged with a felony: battery involving serious bodily injury.
The incident unfolded early Saturday morning, when Sanchez allegedly approached Tole, who was doing his assigned work at a hotel loading dock and told him he couldn't park there, according to police and prosecutors.
Sanchez allegedly climbed into the victim's truck and kept him from calling for help, according to court records.
The victim said Sanchez shoved him when he tried to get his phone, and he felt he was "in physical danger," so he pepper-sprayed Sanchez, according to court documents.
When Sanchez allegedly advanced toward him again, the victim said he thought, "this guy is trying to kill me," so he pulled out a knife, "and when Mr. Sanchez came at him," the victim stabbed Sanchez several times, according to court documents.
The victim said he went "flying back into the dumpster and falling onto the pallets on the ground," and that he "was not aware of what Mr. Sanchez was physically doing to him, whether he was punching him or otherwise striking him," court document said. The victim said he could only see Sanchez's feet "coming at him," and once the victim stood up, he stabbed Sanchez again, the documents said.
Tole has filed a civil suit against Sanchez and Fox.
https://abc7.com/post/mark-sanchez-stabbed-perry-tole-69-year-old-truck-driver-files-civil-lawsuit-former-usc-quarterback-fox/17957853/