A tragic accident claimed the lives of four utility workers and left three others injured Thursday afternoon, April 24, 2025, in Eden. The fatal crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Church Street and Carroll Street.
What Happened
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon, a city employee from Eden, was behind the wheel of a 2016 Hino dump truck owned by the city. Investigators say Vernon failed to stop at a posted stop sign and drove through the intersection, striking six linemen from Carolina Power and Signalization as they worked on overhead power lines, according to wxii12.
The dump truck continued moving after the initial impact, crashing into an occupied bucket truck before veering off the roadway and into a ditch.
Victims Identified
Authorities confirmed that four linemen tragically died at the scene. They have been identified as:
-
Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield
-
Madison Carter, 42, of Sandy Ridge
-
William Evans, 35, of Randleman
-
Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem
Two additional workers suffered life-threatening injuries. Both were airlifted to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. As of the latest update, one remains in critical condition while the other is reported to be stable. The worker inside the bucket truck sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
Charges Filed
Michael Ray Vernon sustained minor injuries in the crash and was transported for medical evaluation. He now faces charges including failure to stop at a stop sign and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Authorities said there is no indication that impairment played a role in the deadly incident.
The crash remains under active investigation.
