ALLIANCE, Neb. — An Alliance man has been arrested on a first-degree assault charge, being accused of attacking another man early Saturday morning.

According to the Alliance Police Department, officers were dispatched to Box Butte General Hospital at approximately 3 a.m. for a report of an assault victim with potentially life-threatening injuries.

The initial investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Dreyson McCormick, of Alliance, had driven the victim to the hospital after the assault but did not disclose his involvement, authorities said.

Witnesses told police the altercation began as a verbal argument before escalating when McCormick allegedly punched the victim multiple times. The victim fell to the ground, striking his head on the pavement, but McCormick continued to strike him until a witness intervened, according to the report.

Following witness interviews, officers located McCormick and took him into custody without incident. He is being held at the Box Butte County Jail on a first-degree assault charge.

The victim remains in critical condition.