Aberdeen, NC — May 19, 2025, One person was injured following a pickup truck accident that occurred at around 2:00 A.M. on Highway 15-501.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left one person injured during the early-morning hours of May 19th. According to official reports, a pickup truck used to clean parking lots was traveling on Highway 15-501 when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and crashed into a retail store, resulting in serious damage to the vehicle.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that the driver had sustained serious injuries and they were transported to the hospital for treatment. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, including the identity and status of the driver, or what caused the collision, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Those affected by a crash like this almost always find themselves looking for answers. Especially when something unusual happens—like a vehicle crashing into a building—it raises a lot of questions that don’t always get answered in a typical crash investigation. In my experience, the most important facts can often be hidden unless we know exactly where to look.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Anytime a vehicle veers off the roadway and collides with a building, it signals a serious breakdown in control. The question is, what triggered that? Early-morning hours often mean reduced visibility, fatigue, or even roadway hazards that aren’t as obvious in daylight. Did the investigators consider these factors? Was the road wet or poorly lit? Were there signs of evasive action or mechanical failure? Police may document the immediate scene, but they don’t always explore the full context. That kind of follow-through matters, because it helps answer not just how the crash happened, but why the driver couldn’t regain control.

Second, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When a vehicle being used for commercial purposes crashes, like this pickup truck used for cleaning parking lots, it's worth considering whether the equipment or vehicle itself was compromised. Commercial vehicles often undergo modifications or carry additional gear that can shift weight or interfere with handling. Was the truck properly maintained? Did it have any known recalls? Equipment failure—especially in older or heavily used vehicles—can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Unless someone steps in to inspect those mechanical systems closely, we may never know if something under the hood played a role in the crash.

Third, has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Vehicles today—even work trucks—are often equipped with electronic systems that store data on speed, braking, and steering in the moments before a crash. This kind of information is incredibly helpful for determining what the driver and the vehicle were doing right before impact. But this data isn’t automatically preserved—it needs to be retrieved quickly. If no one acted to collect it, critical evidence about the crash dynamics might already be gone. That’s a real loss, especially when trying to understand whether the crash stemmed from human error, environmental factors, or something wrong with the truck itself.

In cases like this, the details matter. It’s not enough to say a crash happened—we need to understand the whole story. That requires careful investigation, a willingness to consider less obvious causes, and quick action to preserve evidence before it disappears. Only then can the people involved begin to make sense of what really occurred.

Key Takeaways:

• Crashes involving buildings should prompt deeper investigation into environmental and roadway conditions.
• Vehicle defects or improper commercial modifications could contribute to loss of control and must be inspected.
• Black box data from the vehicle should be downloaded promptly to preserve key crash details.