'Breaks my heart'; 4 dead in Eden after city dump truck hits several people working on power lines

EDEN, N.C. (WGHP) — A community is in shock after four workers were killed in a crash that the highway patrol is now investigating.

On Thursday afternoon, contractors for Duke Energy were working on powerlines in the area of Church and Carroll Streets in Eden when a city dump truck failed to stop at the intersection, hitting six men.

Four were killed instantly. They were identified by troopers as:

• Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield
• Madison Carter, 42, of Sandy Ridge
• William Evans, 35, of Randleman
• Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem

Two others, a 24-year-old and a 34-year-old, were taken to the hospital with critical injuries. The 34-year-old is considered stable, but at last check, the younger man was still critical.

After striking the workers, the dump truck hit an occupied bucket truck and ran off the road, crashing into a ditch. The person in the bucket truck is OK.

The dump truck’s operator, identified as 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon, of Eden, was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries. He has been charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

“He was going really fast. I’m talking about at least 70 to 80 miles per hour. He didn’t stop at all,” Zykea Lowe, who witnessed the crash, said.

“It’s heartbreaking for me because that could’ve been my family. It breaks my heart,” Cindy Anthony, who also saw the crash happen, said. “These people had wives. They had children. It’s heartbreaking because the children don’t have a dad. The wives don’t have a husband anymore. It’s just terrible.”

Duke Energy provided the following 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.

Troopers say they do not believe impairment was a factor and the investigation is ongoing. Because the crash involved a city of Eden vehicle, they relinquished the investigation to the highway patrol.