Hillsville, VA — May 19, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 8 a.m. on the Hillsville Bypass/U.S. Route 58 near Snake Creek Road.
Authorities said a Virginia Department of Transportation truck was parked to put out work zone signs on the left shoulder when it was hit by a passenger vehicle. The truck was partially in the left lane at the time.
The driver of the car, whose name has not been made public yet, died in the crash, according to authorities.
The VDOT truck driver was not injured, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Carroll County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a fatal crash involving a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) truck parked on the shoulder of a highway, a natural question arises: How did something like this happen? After all, highway work zones are common sights, and drivers usually know to steer clear. So what went wrong here? Details in this case are scarce, and that’s exactly where unanswered questions start to matter.
It’s not clear whether the VDOT truck was actively moving or completely stationary at the time of impact. Was it visible from a safe distance? Did it have its emergency lights on? Were signs already in place warning drivers of upcoming work activity?
From my experience litigating similar crashes, these aren’t academic questions; they’re the building blocks of accountability. If the truck was stopped partially in a travel lane, as reported, then we need to ask: Why wasn’t the entire vehicle pulled onto the shoulder? And if it couldn’t be, what additional precautions were taken to alert oncoming traffic?
On the other hand, we don’t yet know if the passenger vehicle driver was distracted, fatigued, or speeding. Cell phone records, dashcam footage and engine control module (ECM) data can help clarify what the driver was doing in the moments before the crash. Without that evidence, it’s impossible to understand whether this was simply a tragic error, a preventable oversight or something more complex.
It’s also worth examining the protocols followed by VDOT in deploying signage. In many of the cases I’ve handled, a company’s procedures, or lack thereof, turn out to be central to what happened. Was this an established method of setting up a work zone? Was the driver trained on how to park and deploy signs safely? Were supervisors involved in planning that morning’s work? Sometimes even a small breakdown in communication or a rushed decision can put people in danger.
This is exactly the kind of situation where evidence matters most. Black box data from the car, eyewitness accounts and any available video footage (whether from the VDOT truck or nearby traffic cameras) could all help clarify the sequence of events. Until that investigation is complete, any assumptions about fault are just that, assumptions.
Key Takeaways
- It’s unclear whether the VDOT truck was stationary or moving, and how visible it was to approaching traffic.
- Evidence like ECM data, cell phone records and dashcam footage will be crucial to determining what happened.
- The driver’s actions before the crash remain unknown: distraction, fatigue or speed could have been factors.
- Questions also need to be asked about VDOT’s work zone setup and whether proper procedures were followed.
- A thorough investigation is the only way to identify who, if anyone, failed to take reasonable safety precautions.
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