UPS driver fatally hits pedestrian with delivery van and takes off, NC officials say
A 24-year-old UPS driver is accused of fatally striking a pedestrian with the company vehicle and leaving the scene, North Carolina officials said.
The crash happened at about 10 p.m. March 4 just outside of Hendersonville, about a 30-mile drive south from Asheville, North Carolina State Highway Patrol Sgt. Cory Hipp told McClatchy News.
The driver, identified as Blake Laughter, hit a man wearing dark clothing who was walking in the road, then he drove away, Hipp said. The pedestrian died at the scene. He was identified by authorities as 59-year-old Armando Gonzalez.
“We are aware of the situation involving one of our drivers,” a spokesperson for UPS told McClatchy News in a March 11 email. “We are cooperating with investigating authorities.”
According to Hipp, Laughter came back to the crash scene with some family members and spoke with investigating troopers after returning the truck to the UPS facility.
The reason why Laughter left is under investigation, Hipp said.
“The fact of the matter is, though, he did leave the scene, which is why we would pick up the charges, respectively,” he said.
Laughter was charged March 7 with hit-and-run leave the scene of a collision resulting in death, Hipp said.
He posted a $10,000 bond and will have a preliminary hearing April 15, Hipp said.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 11:49 AM with the headline "UPS driver fatally hits pedestrian with delivery van and takes off, NC officials say."
