Four Dead, Two Seriously Injured After Eden Crash Involving Dump Truck – Driver Charged
EDEN, N.C. – April 25, 2025 — A devastating crash in Eden on Thursday afternoon has left four people dead, two others critically injured, and a community in mourning after a dump truck collided with a group of utility workers at a busy intersection. The driver, 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon of Eden, has been charged in connection with the fatal incident, the Eden Police Department confirmed.
The collision occurred around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Church Street, Carroll Street, and Park Road. According to a release from the City of Eden and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Vernon was driving a 2016 Hino dump truck owned by the City of Eden. He was traveling northbound on Carroll Street when he reportedly failed to stop at a posted stop sign. Without slowing down, the truck barreled through the intersection and directly into six pedestrians who were working in the area.
The victims were contracted employees from Carolina Power and Signalization, performing powerline work at the time of the incident. The impact was catastrophic. Four of the six pedestrians died at the scene from their injuries. Two others sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
The four deceased victims have been identified as:
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Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield
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Madison Carter, 32, of Sandy Ridge
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William Evans, 35, of Randleman
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Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem
Authorities have not released the names of the two injured pedestrians but confirmed they are a 24-year-old man from Reidsville and a 34-year-old man from Eden. The Reidsville man remains in critical condition, while the Eden man is reportedly in stable condition.
After striking the workers, the dump truck continued forward, slamming into an occupied bucket truck before veering off the road and crashing into a ditch. The person inside the bucket truck was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Driver Michael Vernon sustained only minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He has been charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Law enforcement has stated that impairment does not appear to be a factor at this time, though the investigation is ongoing.
The scene was chaotic and emotional, with multiple emergency response teams arriving quickly. Roads were closed for hours as investigators from the Eden Police Department, NC State Highway Patrol, and other agencies worked to piece together what happened.
This tragedy has reverberated deeply within the community, particularly given the nature of the work being done by the victims—public safety-related infrastructure improvements. Duke Energy, a company affiliated with the contractors, issued a public statement shortly after the crash:
“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 City of Eden and local leaders have expressed their condolences and are urging the public to remain patient as the investigation continues. Mental health support resources are being made available to the families of the victims and first responders affected by the scene.
As the legal process unfolds, officials are expected to determine whether additional charges will be filed against Vernon. Community members have already begun organizing memorials and support efforts for the families affected by this sudden and tragic loss.