THE EDEN COMMUNITY IS IN MOURNING TODAY FOR FOUR PEOPLE KILLED IN A HORRIFIC CRASH. THE DRIVER OF A CITY DUMP TRUCK IS ACCUSED OF HITTING DUKE ENERGY CONTRACTORS WORKING ON A UTILITY POLE. TWO OTHER PEOPLE INJURED IN THIS WRECK ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES RIGHT NOW. NEW AT NOON, CREWS RETURNED TO THE SCENE OF THAT CRASH TODAY. OUR PHOTOJOURNALIST SAW PEOPLE THIS MORNING TAKING 3D IMAGES AND SURVEYING THE SITE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CHURCH AND CARROLL STREETS. THIS CRASH HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND SEVERAL ROADS WERE BLOCKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AS INVESTIGATORS CLEARED THAT SCENE. ALL ROADS HAVE NOW SINCE BEEN REOPENED. THE TRUCK DRIVER, 66 YEAR OLD MICHAEL VERNON, IS ACCUSED OF RUNNING A STOP SIGN AND HITTING SIX DUKE ENERGY CONTRACTORS AND A BUCKET TRUCK. THEY WERE ALL DOING WORK ON THAT POWER LINE. RESIDENTS CALLED THE CRASH HEARTBREAKING. IT’S BEEN HECTIC AND JUST. EVERYBODY’S UPSET TORE UP BECAUSE NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED THAT I CAN REMEMBER. AND IT’S JUST BEEN BAD. IT WAS IT’S JUST BEEN REALLY HECTIC, YOU KNOW, ALL THE COPS AND THE FIRE TRUCK, AMBULANCES AND EVEN THE HELICOPTERS, YOU KNOW, AND IT’S JUST BEEN DEVASTATING, REALLY. VERNON IS CHARGED WITH A STOP SIGN VIOLATION AND MISDEMEANOR DEATH BY MOTOR VEHICLE. NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL IDENTIFIED THOSE WHO DIED IN THE CRASH. THEY ARE 72 YEAR OLD DOUGLAS SIDES OF SUMMERFIELD. 42 YEAR OLD MADISON CARTER OF SANDY RIDGE. 35 YEAR OLD WILLIAM EVANS OF RANDLEMAN AND 30 YEAR OLD MATTHEW LOCKWOOD OF WINSTON-SALEM. DUKE ENERGY RELEASING THIS STATEMENT, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND CUSTOMERS IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AT DUKE ENERGY. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE LATEST INFORMATION ON WXI
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What we know about the North Carolina power crew members killed after crash incident in Eden as families honor loved ones
Families of the victims killed after a city of Eden dump truck crashed into power crews Thursday afternoon are mourning their loved ones.The sister of one of the victims spoke to WXII 12 News on Thursday and said, “He was a lineman who loved the job, everybody loved him, he was a great, great guy and brother."Since then, a memorial has started to grow at the site where the victims were killed. Carolina Power & Signalization said four workers were killed. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, colleagues, and family members impacted by this horrific event,” the company said in a partial statement. The company is also honoring those killed by lifting bucket trucks with an American flag to remember the lives lost.As we learn more about the victims killed, we will add more information here as it becomes available to the community. Matthew Lockwood One of the victims, Matthew Lockwood, was 30 years old and was from Winston-Salem. Madison Carter Another victim, Madison Carter, was 32 years old and was from the Sandy Ridge area. A family member told WXII that Madison's cousin was also seriously injured in the incident. The cousin got out of surgery Friday night and remains in Trauma ICU, according to the family member. He recently got married in October.Douglas Garland Sides Douglas Garland Sides was also killed. He was 72 years old and from the Summerfield area. “He was a good lineman and really good working on underground line problems. He played for several years on the Duke Energy softball team and was a good team member both at work and on the field,” a retired Duke Energy lineman said about working with Sides. William Evans Another victim, William Evans, was 35 years old and from Randleman. Honoring Their MemoryIf you are a family member of a victim and would like to help us honor your loved one, we invite you to reach out. Please call our newsroom at (336) 721-9944 or email newstips@wxii12.com with photos and any information you'd like to share.We are committed to telling their stories with care and respect, and will include your tribute in this story and others, as we come together to remember their lives as a community.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereSubscribe to WXII's free YouTube channel hereRelated Coverage Keep up with the latest weather forecast and news by downloading the WXII app here.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
Families of the victims killed after a city of Eden dump truck crashed into power crews Thursday afternoon are mourning their loved ones.
The sister of one of the victims spoke to WXII 12 News on Thursday and said, “He was a lineman who loved the job, everybody loved him, he was a great, great guy and brother."
Since then, a memorial has started to grow at the site where the victims were killed.
Hearst Owned
Carolina Power & Signalization said four workers were killed.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, colleagues, and family members impacted by this horrific event,” the company said in a partial statement.
The company is also honoring those killed by lifting bucket trucks with an American flag to remember the lives lost.
Carolina Power & Signalization
As we learn more about the victims killed, we will add more information here as it becomes available to the community.
Matthew Lockwood
One of the victims, Matthew Lockwood, was 30 years old and was from Winston-Salem.
Madison Carter
Another victim, Madison Carter, was 32 years old and was from the Sandy Ridge area.
Hearst OwnedTimothy Carter
A family member told WXII that Madison's cousin was also seriously injured in the incident. The cousin got out of surgery Friday night and remains in Trauma ICU, according to the family member. He recently got married in October.
Douglas Garland Sides
Douglas Garland Sides was also killed. He was 72 years old and from the Summerfield area.
“He was a good lineman and really good working on underground line problems. He played for several years on the Duke Energy softball team and was a good team member both at work and on the field,” a retired Duke Energy lineman said about working with Sides.
William Evans
Another victim, William Evans, was 35 years old and from Randleman.
Honoring Their Memory
If you are a family member of a victim and would like to help us honor your loved one, we invite you to reach out. Please call our newsroom at (336) 721-9944 or email newstips@wxii12.com with photos and any information you'd like to share.
We are committed to telling their stories with care and respect, and will include your tribute in this story and others, as we come together to remember their lives as a community.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here
Subscribe to WXII's free YouTube channel here
Related Coverage
Four killed, 3 injured after crash involving city of Eden vehicle, Duke Energy contractors
Families of Eden crash victims remember loved ones
Powerful photo showing bucket trucks with American flag honors North Carolina power crew members killed in Eden
Duke Energy releases statement after contractors involved in deadly crash incident in North Carolina
City of Eden releases statement after city vehicle involved in fatal crash incident with power crews
Keep up with the latest weather forecast and news by downloading the WXII app here.
