EDEN, N.C. — Four people died and two were seriously injured Thursday afternoon when a man operating a city dump truck ran a stop sign and struck Carolina Power and Signalization workers in Eden, officials said.
Michael Ray Vernon, 66, of Eden, failed to stop on Carroll Street at the intersection with Church Street and Park Road and hit the workers, who were conducting powerline work, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Vernon also hit a bucket truck before stopping in a ditch.
Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield; Madison Carter, 32, of Sandy Ridge; William Evans, 35, of Randleman; and Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem all died at the scene.
Hunter Carter, 24, of Reidsville, and Kevin Alexander, 34, of Eden, suffered life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, the highway patrol said. Alexander was listed in serious condition, and Carter was stable as of Thursday night.
Cody Rich, 31, of Reidsville, who was in the bucket of the bucket truck, was transported to UNC Health Rockingham with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Vernon suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital.
The Carolina Power and Signalization workers were doing contract work for Duke Energy, the utility said.
"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," Duke said in a news release.
Vernon was charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, the highway patrol said.
Near the scene of the crash, a small roadside memorial with a Bible verse has been planted and another pays tribute to the workers killed with an American flag draped over it.
The crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday that it is opening an investigation as well.
CORRECTION: The North Carolina State Highway Patrol originally said Madison Carter was 42 years old. This story has been updated to say Carter was 32.
