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Four Duke Energy contractors killed in Eden crash

Four Duke Energy contractors were killed Thursday following a crash in Eden involving a city dump truck.

WGHP-TV reports that the incident happened while the contractors were working on power lines in the area of Church and Carroll Streets.

Troopers have identified the driver of the dump truck as Michael Ray Vernon, 66, of Eden. Witnesses said they saw Vernon speed through a stop sign and hit six men.

Four were killed instantly: Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem; Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield; Madison Carter, 42, of Sandy Ridge; and William Evans, 35, of Randleman.

Two other workers were transported to a hospital in critical condition. Vernon was also taken to a hospital with minor injuries. He was charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Troopers say impairment was likely not a factor in the crash and the investigation is ongoing.

Duke Energy released a statement calling it a “tragic event,” adding that the company is working with law enforcement officials.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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