4 dead, 3 injured after being hit by worker driving city dump truck in Rockingham County, NCSHP says

Friday, April 25, 2025

4 dead after being hit by worker driving city dump truck in Eden

Investigators said an Eden city worker hit six people, some of whom were conducting powerline work in the area.

EDEN, N.C. (WTVD) -- The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) has released new details in a deadly accident on Thursday involving power crews and a city worker in Eden. The crash happened on Thursday around 1:30 p.m. on Carroll Street at Church Street.

Investigators said 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon, of Eden, was driving north on Carroll Road in a city-owned dump truck, drove past a stop sign and through the intersection, and hit six people who were conducting powerline work in the area. NCSHP says Vernon also collided with a bucket truck with a person inside, before driving off the road and crashing into a ditch.

Four of the six people hit died on the scene. They have been identified as:

Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield

Madison Carter, 32, of Sandy Ridge

William Evans, 35, of Randleman

Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem

Download ABC11 App to get Breaking News and Weather Alerts

The other two people hit have life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. NCSHP identified them as a 24-year-old Reidsville man and a 34-year-old Eden man.

The person inside the bucket truck, a 31-year-old Reidsville man, was taken to a hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

Vernon was treated for minor injuries. He has been charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Troopers told ABC11 impairment was not believed to be a factor.

The crash is still under investigation.

Duke Energy released this statement:
"We are saddened about the tragic event that happened today, and our hearts go out to the families and teammates of those involved. The safety of our employees, contractors and customers is the highest priority at Duke Energy. We are working closely with law enforcement officials."

Eden Mayor, Neville Hall, released a video statement and the crash. See it here.

"I come to you today, with a heavy heart to tell you about an incident that occurred in Eden today," Hall said in part. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this terrible incident, and I would like to thank the first responders for the job that they did," Hall said in the video.