EDEN, N.C. — A catastrophic accident in Eden resulted in the deaths of four pedestrians and serious injuries to others on Thursday afternoon when a dump truck, driven by a 66-year-old local man, failed to adhere to a stop sign.
The Eden Police Department released details indicating that the tragic incident unfolded at around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Church Street, Carroll Street, and Park Road. The operator of the 2016 City of Eden Hino dump truck was identified as Michael Ray Vernon, who after running the stop sign, struck six utility workers before colliding with a bucket truck and ending in a ditch off the road.
Tragically, four of the impacted pedestrians succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Their identification was released, mourning the loss of Douglas Garland Sides, 72, from Summerfield, Madison Carter, 42, from Sandy Ridge, William Evans, 35, from Randleman, and Matthew Lockwood, 30, from Winston-Salem.
Two other victims, a 24-year-old from Reidsville and a 34-year-old from Eden, were rapidly transported to a hospital. The Reidsville man is reported to be in critical condition, and the Eden man is in stable condition. The driver of the bucket truck also received medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries.
Vernon sustained minor injuries and was also taken to a hospital. Law enforcement’s initial charges against him include a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, with impairment not currently believed to be a factor in the crash.
The scenario described by an eyewitness, Zykea Lowe, underscores the gravity of the moment. Lowe recounted seeing the dump truck blatantly disregard the stop sign, leading to it striking the group of workers who were performing maintenance on area powerlines.
In light of the incident, a statement from Duke Energy expressed deep sorrow and extended sympathies to the families and colleagues of those affected. The company affirmed its commitment to safety for all its employees, contractors, and customers and indicated they were cooperating with the ongoing police investigations.
This severe accident not only reflects ongoing concerns over vehicle safety in work zones but also underlines the critical need for adherence to traffic laws to protect road workers and pedestrians. A comprehensive investigation by local authorities is actively ongoing to thoroughly understand the dynamics of the crash and prevent future tragedies of this nature.