Kill Devil Hills, NC — May 19, 2025, James Hofler was killed due to a pedestrian versus mail truck accident at approximately 2:00 p.m. along Portsmouth Street.

According to authorities, James Hofler was on foot attempting to cross the street and check his mailbox on Portsmouth Street near Durham Street when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, Hofler was struck a reversing mail truck. He reportedly suffered critical injuries due to the collision and was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. However, he was ultimately unable to overcome the severity of his injuries, having been declared deceased on May 22, 2025.

The woman who had been behind the wheel of the mail truck is reportedly facing charges of misdemeanor death because of her role in the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone on foot is struck and killed by a reversing mail truck, the question isn’t whether it was a tragedy—it’s how something so preventable was allowed to happen. Reversing a commercial vehicle, especially in a residential area, comes with clear risks. That’s why drivers are trained to treat those moments with heightened caution—because the people around them may not see it coming, and in many cases, won’t have time to react.

We still don’t know all the details here, but the fact that charges have been filed suggests that investigators believe the driver failed in a basic duty of care. And in situations involving low-speed maneuvers like backing up, that duty is well understood: Check your surroundings, use mirrors, look directly behind you, and don’t move unless you know it’s safe.

In the cases I’ve handled involving reverse-gear collisions, there’s often a moment of false confidence on the driver’s part—assuming no one is behind them because they didn’t see anyone a few seconds earlier. But people move, and in residential neighborhoods, they move unpredictably. That’s why experienced drivers are trained not to rely solely on mirrors or instinct, but to physically look and, in some cases, use a spotter if visibility is compromised.

We also need to ask whether the vehicle had functioning reverse alarms. Most mail trucks are equipped with beeping alerts to warn pedestrians and bystanders, but those can malfunction—or be ignored. If this truck lacked an audible signal, or if the driver failed to pause and recheck the area before backing up, those failures will be central to determining liability.

Ultimately, this isn’t about complex systems or highway conditions—it’s about situational awareness and basic safety protocol. A man was trying to check his mail in the middle of the day. The fact that he never made it back safely suggests that something went fundamentally wrong with the way the vehicle was being operated.

Key Takeaways:

• Reversing a commercial vehicle requires deliberate caution, especially in residential areas with foot traffic.
• Investigators should examine whether the driver checked all blind spots and used mirrors or direct observation before backing up.
• The presence and functionality of a reverse alarm could be a key factor in evaluating the truck’s safety readiness.
• Charges suggest a failure to meet minimum standards of care during a low-speed, high-responsibility maneuver.
• Situations like this underscore how preventable a crash can be when even one basic safety step is skipped.