Four power line workers killed when dump truck driver hits them, NC cops say
Four power line workers were killed when a dump truck driver hit them in North Carolina, officials said.
Two other pedestrians and a third person in a work truck were injured in the crash at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, the N.C. State Highway Patrol told McClatchy News in an email.
State troopers said Michael Ray Vernon, 66, was behind the wheel of a city of Eden dump truck when the tragedy unfolded.
“Mr. Vernon failed to stop at the stop sign on Carroll Street at the intersection with Church Street, traveled through the intersection and struck six pedestrians conducting powerline work in the area for Carolina Power and Signalization,” highway patrol wrote.
Vernon then is accused of running into the work truck and veering off the road. Troopers in their email didn’t list attorney information for Vernon, who is charged with “a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.”
Highway patrol said four of the six pedestrians died at the scene in Eden, near the Virginia border and a roughly 35-mile drive north from Greensboro. The men were identified as:
- Madison Carter, 42, of Sandy Ridge
- William Evans, 35, of Randleman
- Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem
- Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield
The two surviving pedestrians reportedly suffered “serious life-threatening injuries.” One was flown to a hospital in critical condition, while the other was listed as “stable.”
A seventh man, who had been in the work truck at the time of the crash, was left with with non-life threatening injuries, according to troopers.
The city of Eden in a Facebook post confirmed the crash involved one of its vehicles.
Carolina Power and Signalization didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ requests for comment on April 25. Power company Duke Energy said the Carolina Power and Signalization workers were contracting for them at the time of the crash.
“We are saddened by this tragic event, and our hearts go out to the families and teammates of those involved,” the company told McClatchy News in an emailed statement. “The safety of our employees, contractors and customers is the highest priority at Duke Energy.”
Vernon was taken to a hospital with minor injuries after the crash, highway patrol said.
As of April 25, the deadly wreck remained under investigation. Troopers don’t believe impairment played a role.
