Bethel Twp., Pa. — A routine roadside stop on Interstate 78 turned fatal on Friday when 33-year-old Phillip Daniel Henderson of Bessemer, Florida, was killed in a hit-and-run crash while working on his tractor-trailer along the highway shoulder in Berks County.
Authorities with the Berks County Coroner’s Office said Henderson had pulled over to adjust his load when the tragedy unfolded. He was standing outside his vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate, focused on his work, when a passing box truck struck him.
The impact was severe. Investigators said the box truck did not stop after the collision and immediately fled the scene, leaving Henderson critically injured on the roadside.
Emergency responders arrived quickly after the crash was reported. Despite their efforts to save him, Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene.
News of the incident has left family, friends, and colleagues devastated. Henderson was described by those who knew him as a hardworking man whose life revolved around long hours on the road and providing for his loved ones.
The suddenness of the crash has deepened the grief. One moment he was handling a routine task, and the next, his life was gone without warning, leaving behind shock and unanswered questions.
Law enforcement agencies are now actively investigating the hit-and-run. Detectives are working to identify the box truck involved and locate the driver who fled after the collision.
As the investigation continues, Henderson’s family is left mourning a life cut short far too soon. His memory now rests with those who loved him, marked by a tragic and senseless roadside loss.
