UPDATE (June 27, 2025): Recent reports have been released which identify the pedestrian who lost his life as a result of the hit-and-run truck accident as 21-year-old Kaden Garcia. No additional details are currently available. Investigations remain underway.

Hannibal, MO — June 3, 2025, a man was killed due to a pedestrian versus hit-and-run truck accident at approximately 9:30 p.m. along State Route MM.

According to authorities, the accident took place in a gas station parking lot at the Rte. MM and U.S. Highway 61 (Avenue of the Saints) intersection.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, 21-year-old man from California who had been on foot was struck by an 18-wheeler. The pedestrian reportedly suffered critical injuries due to the collision and was transported to an area medical facility by EMS in order to receive immediate treatment. However, he as ultimately unable to overcome the severity of his injuries, having there been declared deceased.

The truck that had struck him allegedly fled the scene, the person(s) inside failing to stop and render aid of any sort to the victim. The truck—a red or red-orange cab with three horizontal stripes hauling a flatbed trailer—has yet to be located. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a person is struck and killed by an 18-wheeler in a gas station parking lot—and the truck drives away—the central question is no longer just what happened. It’s why didn’t the driver stop? In any commercial operation, fleeing the scene of a fatal collision is more than a legal violation—it’s a direct failure of the basic duty to act like a professional.

Gas station lots are tight, busy environments. Trucks are often maneuvering through narrow lanes, pedestrians are coming and going, and visibility can be limited—especially at night. But that’s exactly why truck drivers are trained to treat these areas with heightened caution. At low speeds, a professional operator should be fully aware of what’s around them, particularly when backing up, turning, or passing through areas where people may be on foot.

Now, the fact that this driver fled the scene raises some serious unanswered questions. Did they know they hit someone? If not, how could a vehicle that large strike a pedestrian without the driver realizing it? And if they did know, what prompted them to leave—panic, lack of insurance, fear of consequences? None of those reasons excuse the act, but they do shift the focus to the trucking company. Who owned this truck? Who dispatched it? Was the driver an employee, a contractor, or operating independently?

I’ve handled hit-and-run trucking cases before, and I can say from experience: someone always knows more than they’re letting on. If the trucker was on duty, their carrier likely has GPS records, fuel card logs, and dispatch history that can help identify them. Surveillance footage from the gas station, nearby traffic cameras, and eyewitnesses may also narrow the search. Flatbed trailers and specific paint patterns can be distinctive—especially when paired with route data.

Ultimately, this is about accountability. A young man lost his life, and whoever caused it didn’t even stop to check if he was breathing. That’s not just a lapse in judgment—that’s a disregard for human life. And if the company that owns or hired this truck fails to come forward, then they’re complicit in keeping the truth buried.

Key Takeaways:

• Commercial truck drivers are held to a high standard of awareness, especially in low-speed, pedestrian-heavy areas like parking lots.
• A hit-and-run involving a fatal injury points to either reckless inattention or a willful decision to evade responsibility.
• GPS logs, dispatch records, and surveillance footage may help identify the truck and driver involved.
• The trucking company—if one is tied to the vehicle—has a duty to assist investigators or risk becoming part of the liability.
• The victim’s death demands a full accounting of not just how the crash happened, but why no one stopped to take responsibility.