North Carolina Dump Truck Crash Kills Four Utility Workers, Driver Charged

A tragic accident in Eden claims lives of linemen; families, friends mourn loss and call for greater road safety awareness.

Eden, North Carolina, April 27:
A devastating crash in Eden, North Carolina, claimed the lives of four utility workers after a city dump truck driver allegedly ran a stop sign and struck a crew repairing power lines, according to local reports.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the intersection of Carroll Street and Church Street. Michael Ray Vernon, 66, was driving a city-owned dump truck when he reportedly failed to stop at a sign, plowing into six workers from Carolina Power and Signalization before crashing into a bucket truck and veering into a ditch.

Four workers — 72-year-old Douglas Garland Sides, 32-year-old Madison Carter, 35-year-old William Evans, and 30-year-old Matthew Lockwood — were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others, aged 24 and 34, sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to a hospital. The man operating the bucket truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities have charged Vernon with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Investigators said there was no indication that impairment contributed to the crash.

Carolina Power & Signalization mourned the loss of their team members, describing them as “fathers, sons, husbands, and friends who committed their lives to serving others.” In a heartfelt Facebook post, the company urged everyone to “hold your loved ones a little tighter” and emphasized the bond their workers shared as a family.

The workers were contracted by Duke Energy, which also issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and reaffirming their commitment to safety.

Eden Mayor Neville Hall and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein extended condolences, highlighting the urgent need for greater road safety to protect workers.

Friends and family are sharing emotional tributes to the victims. Robert Russell, a friend of Matthew Lockwood — a Marine veteran who served in Iraq before becoming a lineman — called him “a brother” and encouraged others to value life’s moments. “Take the trips you said you would,” he urged.

Lockwood’s sister, Rynae, added, “He lived his life to the fullest. He would want to be remembered for that.”

A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the families of the victims.