Phillip Daniel Henderson, 33, of Bessemer, FL Killed in Hit-and-Run on I-78 in Berks County, PA; Box Truck Driver Sought.

‘A Hardworking Life Cut Short’: Phillip Daniel Henderson, 33, Dies After Box Truck Strikes Him on I-78 Shoulder; Driver Flees

BETHEL TWP., Pa. – The long, straight ribbon of Interstate 78 in eastern Pennsylvania is a vital artery for the nation’s freight, carrying thousands of tractor-trailers each day between the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. For most drivers, a pulled-over truck on the shoulder is a minor inconvenience. But on a recent Friday, that shoulder became the scene of a nightmare. Phillip Daniel Henderson, a 33-year-old truck driver from Bessemer, Florida, had stopped to adjust the load on his tractor-trailer. As he worked alongside his rig, a passing box truck veered too close and struck him. The driver did not stop. Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Berks County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of the victim and the circumstances of the crash. According to investigators, Henderson had pulled his tractor-trailer onto the right shoulder of eastbound I-78 in Bethel Township, a rural area known for its rolling farmland and heavy truck traffic. He exited his cab to check or secure part of his cargo – a routine task for long-haul drivers. Moments later, a box truck traveling in the same direction left the travel lane, struck Henderson, and continued on without slowing down.

Emergency crews arrived quickly, but the injuries were catastrophic. Phillip Daniel Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene. His truck remained on the shoulder for hours as Pennsylvania State Police reconstructed the incident and searched for evidence.

“This is a senseless tragedy,” said a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police’s Troop L, which covers Berks County. “A man was doing his job – a dangerous job that already carries enough risk – and someone fled the scene, leaving him to die alone on the highway. We are committed to finding that driver.”

For Henderson’s family in Florida and for the tight-knit community of long-haul drivers who traverse the nation’s highways, the loss is devastating. A hardworking man, a father, a friend – gone in an instant, with no one taking responsibility.

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Who Was Phillip Daniel Henderson?

Phillip Daniel Henderson, known to friends and family as “Phil” or “Danny,” was 33 years old and a resident of Bessemer, Florida, a small town in the Florida Panhandle. He was a professional truck driver, a career he had pursued for more than a decade. He worked for a regional freight carrier, hauling goods up and down the eastern seaboard, often spending weeks away from home.

Born in Pensacola, Florida, Henderson grew up helping his father, a mechanic, in the family garage. He learned to drive big rigs before he could legally drink. By age 21, he had his commercial driver’s license and was on the road full-time. Coworkers described him as meticulous, careful, and the kind of driver who never cut corners.

“Phil was one of the safest drivers I ever worked with,” said Randy Tolliver, a fellow driver and friend. “He would never speed, never drive tired, never take chances. He took pride in getting his load there on time and in one piece. And he would always stop to help a fellow driver who was broke down. That was Phil.”

Henderson was also a devoted father to a 7-year-old daughter, Layla, who lives with her mother in Alabama. According to family members, he FaceTimed her every night, no matter where he was or what time it was. He kept a framed photo of her on the dashboard of his truck.

“His daughter was his whole world,” said his mother, Patricia Henderson, speaking from Bessemer. “He worked those long hours, those lonely nights on the road, all for her. He wanted to give her everything. And now she has to grow up without her daddy.”

Henderson is also survived by his father, William Henderson Sr.; two younger brothers, both living in Florida; and a large extended family. A memorial service is being planned in Bessemer, with a separate gathering for trucker friends along a highway rest stop in Pennsylvania.

Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring Henderson’s body back to Florida and to establish a college fund for his daughter. As of Saturday morning, more than $12,000 had been raised.

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The Crash: What Happened on I-78

According to the Berks County Coroner’s Office and the Pennsylvania State Police, the incident occurred on the eastbound side of Interstate 78 in Bethel Township, approximately two miles west of the Exit 19 interchange (Route 501). The area is rural, with no streetlights and wide, open shoulders.

Henderson had pulled his 18-wheeler onto the shoulder to adjust his load. Long-haul truckers often stop on shoulders to check straps, tarps, or load shift – especially after hitting bumps or making sharp turns. While this is sometimes necessary, it is also extremely dangerous, as passing vehicles may not expect a person to be standing outside a truck.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Friday, a box truck – described by witnesses as a medium-duty straight truck, possibly a rental or a commercial delivery vehicle – was traveling eastbound in the right lane. For reasons still under investigation, the box truck drifted onto the shoulder. It struck Henderson, who was standing between his truck and the lane of travel. The impact threw him several feet.

The box truck did not stop. Witnesses reported seeing the truck continue eastbound, possibly accelerating. No license plate number was immediately available. The Pennsylvania State Police have issued a regional alert for a white or light-colored box truck with front-end damage, especially to the passenger-side headlight and bumper.

“We are reviewing traffic cameras, toll records, and any available dashcam footage from other drivers,” said Trooper First Class Maria Sanchez. “We are also asking anyone who was on I-78 eastbound between 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday to review their own dashcams. Someone out there has a recording of this truck.”

Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:12 p.m. by Berks County Coroner’s Deputy John Fielding. An autopsy will be performed to confirm the cause of death, though trauma from the collision is obvious.

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The Hit-and-Run: A Growing Problem

Hit-and-run crashes are on the rise across the United States. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there are more than 750,000 hit-and-run crashes annually in the U.S., resulting in approximately 2,000 deaths each year. Pennsylvania has seen a steady increase in such incidents, with state police reporting a 15% rise since 2020.

“Leaving the scene of a crash – especially a fatal crash – is not just a traffic violation. It is a felony,” said Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams. “The driver who struck Phillip Henderson is not just a witness; they are a criminal. We will use every resource to find them and bring them to justice.”

Penalties for hit-and-run resulting in death in Pennsylvania include a first-degree felony, up to 10 years in prison, and fines up to $25,000. If the driver was impaired or distracted, additional charges could apply.

The Pennsylvania State Police have not yet identified a suspect. They are asking trucking companies, repair shops, and the public to be on the lookout for a box truck with fresh damage. They have also reached out to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to review any electronic logging device (ELD) data from trucks that were in the area at the time.

“Someone knows something,” Trooper Sanchez said. “The driver may have told a spouse, a coworker, a friend. Maybe they took the truck to a body shop. Maybe they are acting strangely. We need the public to help us connect the dots.”

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The Trucking Community Reacts

News of Henderson’s death spread quickly through online forums, CB radio chatter, and truck stop conversations. For professional drivers, a fatal hit-and-run on a highway shoulder is a particular kind of horror – a reminder that the roadside, where they often have to step out for inspections or repairs, can be deadly.

“Every time I pull over to check a strap, I’m risking my life,” said long-haul driver Marcus Webb, who has driven I-78 hundreds of times. “You hope people see you. You hope they move over. But some drivers are on their phones, or they’re drunk, or they just don’t care. And then someone like Phil ends up dead, and the coward takes off.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) issued a statement expressing outrage and calling for stricter penalties for hit-and-run drivers. “Professional truck drivers already face immense risks. Fleeing the scene after killing a driver is an act of pure cowardice. We urge anyone with information to come forward.”

A memorial convoy is being organized by Henderson’s fellow drivers. On a date to be determined, dozens of trucks will drive slowly along the stretch of I-78 where he died, horns blaring, in tribute to a fallen brother. The convoy will end at a rest area where drivers will hold a moment of silence.

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The Family’s Anguish: ‘He Deserved Better’

For Patricia Henderson, Phillip’s mother, the phone call from Pennsylvania State Police was the worst moment of her life. “They said there had been an accident. They said my son was gone. I screamed. I don’t remember much else.”

She described her son as a gentle giant – 6-foot-2, strong, but with a soft voice and a big heart. “He would give you his last dollar. He would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger change a tire. He was that kind of man. And he died because someone was in a hurry and didn’t care enough to stop.”

Henderson’s father, William Sr., is a retired mechanic. He taught his son everything about trucks. “Phil could fix anything,” he said. “He loved those big rigs. He loved the road. But he didn’t love it enough to die on it. Not like this.”

The family has hired an attorney to conduct a parallel investigation. They have also reached out to the FBI for assistance in tracking down the box truck, though the case remains with state police for now.

“We will not rest until the person who killed our son is behind bars,” Patricia said. “And we want to look them in the eye and ask them: Why didn’t you stop? Why did you leave him there like he was nothing?”

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The Investigation: What Police Need

The Pennsylvania State Police have released a description of the suspect vehicle: a white or light-colored box truck, likely a Freightliner or similar make, with significant front-end damage to the passenger side. The truck may have a missing or damaged headlight, a cracked windshield, or a dented bumper.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police – Troop L, Reading Station, at (610) 378-4011. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (1-800-472-8477). A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered.

Police are also urging any trucking companies with vehicles in the area to review their GPS and ELD logs. The box truck may have a damaged front-end camera or radar system that could provide clues.

“We are confident that someone saw something or knows something,” Trooper Sanchez said. “We need the public’s help to bring closure to the Henderson family.”

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A Final Farewell

On the side of I-78, where Phillip Daniel Henderson took his last breath, a small memorial has appeared. A wooden cross, a bouquet of artificial flowers, and a handwritten sign: “Rest easy, Phil. We’ll take the next load for you.” A trucker’s cap hangs from the cross, and a half-empty bottle of water stands at its base.

Truckers passing by slow down, some sounding their air horns in a tribute that echoes across the farmland. The sound is mournful, defiant, and deeply human.

Phillip Daniel Henderson was 33 years old. He was a father, a son, a brother, a friend. He was a man who worked hard, loved deeply, and died doing a job that keeps America moving. He deserved to come home. He deserved a driver who stopped. He deserved justice.

Rest in peace, Phillip Daniel Henderson. You will not be forgotten.

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Anyone with information about the hit-and-run on I-78 in Bethel Township, Berks County, on Friday, April 11, 2025, is urged to contact Pennsylvania State Police – Troop L at (610) 378-4011. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (1-800-472-8477). A reward of up to $5,000 is available.

A GoFundMe page to support Phillip Henderson’s daughter and funeral expenses can be found by searching “Phillip Daniel Henderson Memorial Fund” on the GoFundMe website.