Asheville Utility Worker Seriously Injured in Alleged Hit-and-Run on Charlotte Street

Asheville, North Carolina — August 21, 2026 — According to ABC 13 News and the Asheville Police Department, an Asheville Water Resources employee suffered serious injuries after being struck by a pickup truck while working along Charlotte Street.

The incident occurred near Lennox Court. Police said the utility employee was working in a travel lane where traffic cones had been placed and was wearing a safety vest when the truck struck him. The impact reportedly threw the worker into the air.

The driver did not remain at the scene, police said. After striking the worker, the truck allegedly continued along Charlotte Street, hit a sign outside Charlotte Street Pub, and kept going.

Investigators identified the driver as 39-year-old Jeffrey Allen of Weaverville. Police said a 4-year-old child was inside the truck at the time of the incident.

Authorities also determined that the vehicle belonged to Allen’s employer. The business cooperated with investigators, helping police identify Allen and locate the truck. Allen was arrested and taken to the Buncombe County Detention Facility.

According to Asheville police, Allen faces multiple charges, including aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle, felony hit and run with injury, misdemeanor hit and run involving property damage, misdemeanor child abuse, reckless driving to endanger, and driving while impaired. The charges remain allegations, and Allen has not been convicted in connection with the incident.

The injured employee was transported to Mission Hospital. His injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.

The incident has also prompted Asheville police to emphasize the dangers faced by people whose jobs require them to work in or alongside active roadways. Utility employees, law enforcement officers, first responders, and other roadside workers can be especially vulnerable when motorists are distracted, speeding, impaired, or otherwise driving unsafely.

Lt. Evan Flanders of the Asheville Police Department urged motorists to recognize that even a brief lapse in attention can have serious consequences. Drivers may be rushing to work, responding to messages, or dealing with other distractions, but Flanders stressed the importance of remaining attentive to the people sharing the roadway.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Ramsay Law Firm has attorneys board-certified in Workers’ Compensation claims to help individuals with severe injuries and death claims.

A Voice For The Injured. Here Every Step of The Way. Call 704-376-1616 or contact us online.

Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. We will remove this post if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.