Powerful photo showing bucket trucks with American flag honors North Carolina power crew members killed in Eden
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Updated: 3:57 PM EDT Apr 25, 2025
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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Powerful photo showing bucket trucks with American flag honors North Carolina power crew members killed in Eden
Four people were killed Thursday after a large truck by the city of Eden entered a work zone, hitting a Carolina Power crew. The company has lifted up bucket trucks along with an American flag to honor those killed. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, colleagues, and family members impacted by this horrific event,” Carolina Power and Signalization said in a partial quote. A memorial has also been started at the site where the crew was killed in Eden. The victims were identified by the North Carolina Highway Patrol:Douglas Garland Sides, of Summerfield, 72Madison Carter, of Sandy Ridge, 32William Evans, of Randleman, 35Matthew Lockwood, of Winston-Salem, 30Carolina Power & Signalization released the following statement on Friday:"Yesterday, a Carolina Power crew working on an electric distribution project in North Carolina experienced a tragic event. A large truck, owned by the city of Eden, entered a work zone striking six employees, as well as a third-party inspector. This resulted in four fatalities (three Carolina Power employees and the contract inspector). The two additional Carolina Power employees remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. According to various news reports, the driver of the city truck was charged with running a stop sign and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. The North Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the investigation of the incident. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, colleagues, and family members impacted by this horrific event."Duke Energy released the following statement on Thursday:“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."The North Carolina Governor’s Office released the following statement:“Governor Stein and his wife Anna extend their deepest condolences to the four families who lost a loved one under such tragic circumstances. Keeping workers safe on roads is a shared responsibility, and we must do all that we can to promote road safety.” Neville Hall, mayor of Eden, released a video statement about the incident on Thursday.“I come to you today, with a heavy heart to tell you about an incident that occurred in Eden today,” Hall said in part. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this terrible incident, and I would like to thank the first responders for the job that they did."Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereThe city of Eden originally released the following statement after the incident:"At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 the City of Eden Police and Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Church Street, Carroll Street and Park Road. Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a City of Eden motor vehicle was involved in an accident where fatalities occurred. The North Carolina State Patrol is investigating the accident. No further statements will be forthcoming at this time."Subscribe to WXII's free YouTube channel hereRelated Coverage Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
The company has lifted up bucket trucks along with an American flag to honor those killed.
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Carolina Power & Signalization
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, colleagues, and family members impacted by this horrific event,” Carolina Power and Signalization said in a partial quote.
A memorial has also been started at the site where the crew was killed in Eden.
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The victims were identified by the North Carolina Highway Patrol:
Douglas Garland Sides, of Summerfield, 72
Madison Carter, of Sandy Ridge, 32
William Evans, of Randleman, 35
Matthew Lockwood, of Winston-Salem, 30
Carolina Power & Signalization released the following statement on Friday:
"Yesterday, a Carolina Power crew working on an electric distribution project in North Carolina experienced a tragic event. A large truck, owned by the city of Eden, entered a work zone striking six employees, as well as a third-party inspector. This resulted in four fatalities (three Carolina Power employees and the contract inspector). The two additional Carolina Power employees remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. According to various news reports, the driver of the city truck was charged with running a stop sign and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. The North Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the investigation of the incident. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, colleagues, and family members impacted by this horrific event."
Duke Energy released the following statement on Thursday:
“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."
The North Carolina Governor’s Office released the following statement:
“Governor Stein and his wife Anna extend their deepest condolences to the four families who lost a loved one under such tragic circumstances. Keeping workers safe on roads is a shared responsibility, and we must do all that we can to promote road safety.”
Neville Hall, mayor of Eden, released a video statement about the incident on Thursday.
“I come to you today, with a heavy heart to tell you about an incident that occurred in Eden today,” Hall said in part. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this terrible incident, and I would like to thank the first responders for the job that they did."
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here
The city of Eden originally released the following statement after the incident:
"At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 the City of Eden Police and Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Church Street, Carroll Street and Park Road. Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a City of Eden motor vehicle was involved in an accident where fatalities occurred. The North Carolina State Patrol is investigating the accident. No further statements will be forthcoming at this time."