It was an act of kindness that nearly cost him his life. On a quiet Sunday night in Fort Worth, Texas, 28-year-old Jackson Oltmanns, a DoorDash driver from North Texas, found himself in a terrifying ordeal outside a Waffle House on West Rendon Crowley Road. What began as a routine stop for a to-go order turned into a violent encounter that left him bloodied, shaken, and grateful to be alive. As he sat in his 2024 Toyota Camry waiting for his food, a stranger approached his window, asking for money. In a gesture of compassion, Jackson offered to buy the man something to eat instead. But in a horrifying twist, that small act of goodwill was met with a brutal attack.
Moments after Jackson opened his car door to assist, the man lunged at him with a knife. The blade slashed across Jackson’s face and plunged into his chest multiple times. “He tried stabbing me at least 10 times,” Jackson later recounted in a post online, his words carrying the weight of disbelief and trauma. Despite the shock and pain, he fought back, wrestling with his assailant in a desperate bid to survive. The struggle ended when the attacker overpowered him, stole his car, and fled the scene, leaving Jackson wounded but alive on the pavement outside the restaurant.
Police were called to the Waffle House just before 3 a.m., responding to reports of a stabbing. Emergency medical personnel arrived quickly, treating Jackson for injuries that, while serious, were thankfully not life-threatening. His face bore a deep cut, and his chest ached from the wounds, but he had escaped the worst. Reflecting on the ordeal, he admitted the sight of his own blood pooling around him made him fear the end was near. “I thought I was going to die,” he said, a sentiment that lingered long after the adrenaline faded.
The suspect didn’t get far. After speeding off in Jackson’s stolen Camry, he drove north to a strip club near Meacham Boulevard, where his reckless journey came to an abrupt halt. Authorities tracked him down and arrested him shortly after he crashed the vehicle, its wheel damaged beyond repair. Identified as 24-year-old Quindarius Cartwright, the man now faces charges of aggravated robbery, a felony that carries significant consequences. He remains in custody at the Tarrant County jail, held on a $150,000 bond, as the legal process begins to unfold.
For Jackson, the physical scars are only part of the story. The emotional toll of the attack has left him grappling with a harsh lesson about trust and vulnerability. A hardworking delivery driver, he’s no stranger to late-night shifts or encounters with people in need. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked for money by homeless people or just people out on the streets,” he said in an interview. His instinct has always been to help when he could, a reflection of his good nature. But that night, he learned a painful truth: kindness can sometimes be exploited. “You’ve got to be very careful about who you’re willing to help out,” he added, his voice tinged with regret, “because sometimes they will take advantage of that.”
In the days following the attack, Jackson turned to his community for support, launching a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses and replace the car that was both his lifeline and his livelihood. The response has been a small silver lining, with friends, family, and even strangers stepping up to offer donations and words of encouragement. His story has struck a chord, a reminder of the risks that delivery workers face in an industry that often sends them into unpredictable situations alone.
The Fort Worth Police Department has praised the swift action that led to Cartwright’s arrest, emphasizing their commitment to keeping the city safe. Meanwhile, Jackson’s recovery is just beginning. The wounds on his face and chest will heal with time, but the memory of that night—when a simple act of generosity turned into a fight for survival—will stay with him. As he moves forward, he’s determined to reclaim his sense of security and continue the work he loves, though he admits he’ll never look at a late-night stop the same way again. For now, he’s just thankful to have a second chance, a sentiment echoed by those who know him best: Jackson Oltmanns is a survivor, and his story is far from over.