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CONCORD - A Concord mail carrier’s Jeep was struck from behind in a hit and run on Hwy 362 near Irish Hills on Monday morning.

The post office employee was delivering mail when a white Ford F250 with an enclosed trailer attempted to go around her. The trailer struck her vehicle and caused it to go off of the road and flip on its side.

The truck left the scene of the accident, but a citizen saw the accident and reported the vehicle to Sheriff’s Office when it stopped on Pryor Road. Deputies confirmed that was the vehicle that struck that mail carrier’s jeep and made an arrest.

Steven Kelso, 43 years old from Griffin, was located on Pryor Road about 24 minutes after the accident and was arrested for Failure to Maintain Lane and Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries.

Post office employee, Jessica Bennett, was transported to Southern Regional Medical Center by EMS.

Pike County Times spoke with Jessica Bennett on Tuesday about the wreck. The photos of the wreck scenes above were sent to Jessica, and she shared them with Pike County Times.

Jessica said that she can’t stress enough the scary feelings that carriers have as they deliver the mail and have people zooming by who were not paying attention. She said that she has had to dodge people while delivering the mail.

But something good has come out of this accident. The community has come together to take care of their mail carrier.

According to her Meal Train page which was organized by Alexis Rosario, friends and community members are trying to help put the funds together to help her out with a vehicle to deliver the mail when she is allowed to start again, and meals are being delivered to her and her family. https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nw1o1d.

Jessica was driving her own vehicle that was modified so she could deliver mail in it. She has picked out a new mail car that people from the community have been donating toward to help her when she is able to go back to work.

All funds donated will go directly to the purchase and modification of this Jeep so she can get back to work as soon as allowed. Those who would like to make a donation without going through the web can go to Frank’s Filling station and donate directly through Terri Wester.

Jessica told Pike County Times that she really wants to thank the community and her amazing (mail) route family for their love and support. “The outpouring of help with food and donations and check-ins have been out of this world!” she said.

She has delivered mail for 8 years and has been on this route for 5 years this month.

“I love my job. I'm super dedicated and invested in it because of my route family, they all are amazing people who love big!” she said. “I will retire from this route.”