A 48-year-old U.S. Postal Service worker lost a leg and suffered severe facial injuries after being struck by a car while working his mail route in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia on Thursday. The postal worker remained in critical condition at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, police and people who know him said.
According to police, the worker was standing behind his parked postal vehicle gathering mail when a silver Honda sedan struck him. The driver continued forward and crashed into another parked vehicle. The collision, which happened shortly after 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Ashburner and Walker streets, was captured on surveillance video.
Sources said the worker had been on his usual route, though he was not driving his usual vehicle. Friends, coworkers and residents described the victim as a familiar and well-liked presence in the neighborhood.
“This guy was amazing. He went out of his way. Like at my store, Tony’s Deals up the street here, I would turn around and say hey can you wait for me? He was ready to go home, and he would wait,” said Anthony Perez.
Perez also expressed disbelief about the crash. “How could it happen to someone like that?” he said. Neighbors said the postal worker knew many people on his route and regularly made an effort to be kind.
“Actually I was crying just now because I met the guy. He used to come to my store everyday and he was the nicest person ever, always smiling,” said Alexander Urbina of Holmesburg Auto.
Urbina said the driver had just left his dealership after picking up a friend’s car when the collision occurred.
Those who know the worker said they are hoping for his recovery. “Prayers. And prayers from everyone,” Perez said. Police said the driver remained at the scene and has not been charged. The Crash Investigation Division is investigating the incident.
Background on letter carrier safety in Philadelphia
Letter carriers in the United States typically spend their shifts on foot, moving from mailbox to mailbox along established neighborhood routes and frequently walking near traffic and alongside parked vehicles. The U.S. Postal Service has long tracked vehicle-related injuries as part of its annual safety reporting, and incidents in which postal workers are struck while on duty have repeatedly prompted local reminders for drivers to slow down and stay alert around mail trucks and residential drop-off points.
Reported by WPVI.
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