A devastating multi-vehicle crash in Eden, North Carolina, has left four people dead and three others injured after a dump truck driven by 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon plowed through a utility work crew at the intersection of Carroll Street, Church Street, and Park Road on Thursday afternoon. The victims—Douglas Garland Sides, 72; Madison Carter, 42; William Evans, 35; and Matthew Lockwood, 30—were pronounced dead at the scene, while two surviving workers, Hunter Carter, 24, and Kevin Alexander, 34, suffered life-threatening injuries. A third injured individual, Cody Rich, 31, who was inside a bucket truck struck by Vernon’s vehicle, sustained non-life-threatening wounds. Vernon, who was operating a 2016 Hino dump truck owned by the City of Eden, has been charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, with further charges pending as the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) continues its investigation.

A Deadly Afternoon: The Crash in Real Time

The tragedy unfolded at approximately 1:30 p.m. on April 25, 2025, at one of Eden’s busiest intersections. According to preliminary reports from the NCSHP, Vernon was traveling northbound on Carroll Street when he failed to stop at a clearly marked stop sign at the junction with Church Street. The 26,000-pound dump truck barreled into the intersection, striking six utility workers employed by Carolina Power and Signalization, a contractor for Duke Energy, who were performing routine powerline maintenance.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and horror as the massive truck mowed down the workers before colliding with an occupied bucket truck, sending it spinning. The dump truck then careened off the road, crashing into a nearby ditch before coming to a stop.

Emergency responders from Eden Police, Rockingham County EMS, and multiple fire departments arrived within minutes, but the damage was already catastrophic. Four workers—Sides, Carter, Evans, and Lockwood—were pronounced dead on-site, while Hunter Carter and Kevin Alexander were airlifted to trauma centers in critical condition.

The Victims: Lives Cut Short

1. Douglas Garland Sides, 72 (Summerfield, NC)

A veteran utility worker with over 40 years of experience, Sides was a beloved figure in the industry. Colleagues described him as a mentor and family man, known for his meticulous work ethic. His death marks one of the oldest victims ever killed in a workplace accident in Rockingham County history.

2. Madison Carter, 42 (Sandy Ridge, NC)

A mother of two, Carter had recently transitioned from administrative work to field operations to support her family. Friends say she was excited about her new role and had just celebrated her youngest child’s birthday days before the crash.

3. William Evans, 35 (Randleman, NC)

Evans, a former Marine, was known for his discipline and leadership on the job. His coworkers say he often took extra shifts to help his team, and his loss has left a void in the close-knit utility community.

4. Matthew Lockwood, 30 (Winston-Salem, NC)

The youngest of the victims, Lockwood was engaged to be married later this year. His fiancée told reporters that he had just bought a house and was planning to start a family.

The Survivors: Long Road to Recovery

• Hunter Carter, 24 (Reidsville, NC) – Airlifted to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital with multiple fractures and internal injuries. Doctors say his condition remains critical but stable.

• Kevin Alexander, 34 (Eden, NC) – Suffered severe spinal trauma but is in stable condition after emergency surgery.

• Cody Rich, 31 (Reidsville, NC) – The lone occupant of the bucket truck, Rich escaped with non-life-threatening injuries but is traumatized by the event.

The Driver: Michael Ray Vernon’s Background and Charges

Michael Ray Vernon, 66, has been an employee of the City of Eden for over a decade, primarily operating heavy machinery. Colleagues describe him as a quiet, experienced driver with no prior incidents. However, investigators confirmed that no mechanical failure or impairment contributed to the crash—Vernon simply missed the stop sign.

Legal Ramifications

• Current Charges:

  • Stop sign violation (N.C.G.S. § 20-158)

  • Misdemeanor death by motor vehicle (N.C.G.S. § 20-141.4)

• Potential Additional Charges:

  • Felony charges if negligence is proven

  • Civil lawsuits from victims’ families

Legal experts suggest that given the severity of the incident, prosecutors may upgrade charges depending on further evidence.

Intersection Safety: A Known Hazard?

Data from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reveals that the Carroll-Church-Park Road intersection has seen 12 crashes in the past five years, though none as deadly as this one. Residents have long complained about:

• Poor visibility due to overgrown foliage

• Inconsistent signage placement

• Speeding vehicles ignoring stop signs

The NCSHP has pledged a full traffic safety review, and the City of Eden may face scrutiny over driver training protocols.

Utility Work Safety: A Dangerous Profession

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that line installers and repairers face a fatality rate of 20.3 per 100,000 workers—five times higher than the national average for all occupations. This incident underscores the risks utility workers face daily, even in seemingly controlled environments.

Duke Energy and Contractor Responsibility

Carolina Power and Signalization, the victims’ employer, is a longtime contractor for Duke Energy. In a statement, Duke Energy expressed deep sorrow but emphasized that safety protocols were followed. However, OSHA has opened an investigation into whether proper work-zone protections were in place.

Community Response: Grief and Calls for Change

• Vigils held at the crash site

• GoFundMe campaigns for victims’ families

• Local lawmakers pushing for stricter traffic enforcement

What’s Next?

• NCSHP’s final crash report (expected in 4-6 weeks)

• Possible civil lawsuits against Vernon and the City of Eden

• OSHA’s findings on workplace safety compliance

Final Thoughts

This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of how one moment of inattention can lead to irreversible loss. As Eden mourns, questions about road safety, workplace protections, and accountability remain unanswered.

For now, the community holds its breath, waiting for justice—and praying for the survivors.