Cedar Falls, IA — December 20, 2025, Charlotte Wells was killed in a truck accident at about 11:30 a.m. in the 500 block of Main Street.

Authorities said a U.S. Postal Service delivery vehicle hit a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, 73-year-old Charlotte Wells, died after being transported to a local hospital, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Black Hawk County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a pedestrian being hit by a U.S. Postal Service truck in the middle of the day, a lot of questions naturally come to mind: How did this happen? Was the pedestrian crossing legally? Was the driver distracted? And perhaps most importantly, what evidence exists to help sort out the facts?

At this point, the public reporting doesn’t give us much to go on. All we really know is that a 73-year-old woman was hit and later died from her injuries. Authorities haven’t said whether she was in a crosswalk, whether the truck was turning or going straight or even whether it was stopped or moving at the time of the collision. Each of those details would help shape a clearer picture of what went wrong.

Depending on whether the pedestrian was lawfully in the roadway or on the sidewalk, different legal questions arise. If she had the right of way, then the focus turns to the driver’s actions: Was the postal worker distracted? Were they speeding? Did they fail to yield as required by law? But if she was crossing against a signal or stepping into the road unexpectedly, then the legal analysis shifts. The real challenge is we just don’t have those facts yet.

That’s why it’s so important to go beyond the initial crash report. Commercial vehicles like USPS trucks may have onboard GPS data, dash cameras or even route-tracking software that could reveal whether the driver was following policy and paying attention. Driver history also matters. Has this postal worker had prior incidents? Are there documented complaints? You won’t find that in a press release, but it could be central to any effort to determine responsibility.

In my experience, it’s a mistake to assume these crashes are simple just because they happen at low speeds or in town centers. I’ve handled cases where a delivery driver hit someone due to a blind spot or rushed schedule, and it turned out the employer knew the risks but didn’t take steps to address them. That kind of negligence doesn’t just fall on the individual behind the wheel. It often involves decisions made much higher up.

Until we have more evidence — through surveillance footage, witness accounts and possibly vehicle data — we’re left with more questions than answers. But if there's any hope of accountability, those questions will need to be asked and answered through a thorough and independent investigation.

Key Takeaways:

• Authorities haven’t said whether the pedestrian was in a crosswalk or if the truck was moving or stopped. Key facts remain unknown.
• USPS trucks may have dash cams, GPS logs or other data that could clarify what happened.
• Driver history and training policies may also factor into determining liability.
• Responsibility may rest not just with the driver but potentially with the Postal Service if broader issues contributed.
• Only a full investigation can determine who is accountable and why this crash occurred.