Hendersonville, NC — March 4, 2025, Armando Gonzalez was killed in a truck accident at about 10 p.m. on Dana Road near Katie Drive.

Authorities said a pedestrian was hit by an eastbound delivery truck while walking in the road. The truck did not stop after the collision.

Pedestrian Armando Jose Gonzalez, 59, died in the crash, according to authorities.

The UPS truck driver has been charged with felony hit-and-run for leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, authorities said. He allegedly returned the truck to the UPS facility and went home before returning to the scene of the crash with relatives.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Henderson County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

Crashes involving pedestrians and commercial trucks raise serious concerns about visibility, driver awareness, and whether the collision could have been avoided. In this case, reports indicate that a UPS truck struck a pedestrian walking in the road and then left the scene before the driver eventually returned. That immediately raises two critical questions: why did the crash happen, and why did the driver not stop?

One major concern is the truck driver’s decision to leave the scene. Commercial drivers are trained to report any collision immediately, and failing to do so raises questions about whether the driver was distracted, fatigued or possibly unaware he had struck someone. However, given that the driver returned later with family members, it appears he realized what happened but still chose not to stop right away. That choice has legal consequences, as shown by the felony hit-and-run charge.

Investigators should also examine whether distraction played a role in the crash itself. Was the driver looking at a GPS, phone or delivery manifest? Was the truck’s speed appropriate for the conditions? Reviewing surveillance footage, vehicle data and the driver’s work schedule could help clarify whether inattention contributed to the collision.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to the crash. But if authorities focus only on the hit-and-run charge without investigating why the driver failed to see or avoid the pedestrian — whether due to poor visibility, distraction or road design — they risk missing key details. A full investigation should take all factors into account to ensure a complete understanding of what went wrong.