EDEN, North Carolina — A dump truck driver charged in a 2025 crash that killed four utility workers has died in prison before being convicted or sentenced, authorities confirmed.

Michael Vernon, 66, died around 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Raleigh Central Prison, according to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Vernon was being held under a $1.6 million secured bond at the time of his death. His family has been notified. The cause of death has not been released.

Vernon had been facing four counts of second-degree murder without regard and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in connection with the April 24, 2025 crash in Eden.

Details of the Crash

The collision occurred at the intersection of Carroll Street and Church Street in Eden, North Carolina.

Investigators said Vernon was driving a City of Eden dump truck north on Carroll Street when he ran a stop sign and struck six linemen who were working on power lines for Carolina Power and Signalization.

Four of the workers were killed at the scene:

• Douglas Garland Sides, 72

• Madison Carter, 32

• William Evans, 35

• Matthew Lockwood, 30

Two other linemen were seriously injured. Vernon was also injured in the crash.

Licensing and Medical Issues

Investigators later determined that Vernon did not possess a valid commercial driver’s license at the time of the crash. Authorities also revealed that he had a known medical condition, though details of that condition were not disclosed.

The North Carolina Department of Labor cited the City of Eden for workplace safety violations, including allowing Vernon to operate a commercial vehicle without a valid CDL and permitting him to drive despite a known medical condition. The city was fined $145,640.

A Rockingham County grand jury indicted Vernon in November 2025, elevating the case from earlier misdemeanor charges that included death by motor vehicle, failure to stop at a stop sign, and operating a commercial vehicle without the proper license.

Prosecutors argued that Vernon was not legally licensed to operate the commercial vehicle and posed a danger to the community. Defense attorneys maintained that Vernon had no prior criminal record, was not impaired at the time of the crash, and disputed claims that he knowingly drove while medically unfit.

Death in Custody

Sheriff Page said Vernon was in safekeeping custody at Raleigh Central Prison when he died. It is not immediately clear how his death will affect the pending criminal proceedings.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.

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