From Rhino Times Reader Austin Morris
That incident in Eden last year was horrible. Four men were killed through irresponsible and careless driving by a City of Eden employee. But he didn’t intend to kill them; it was not murder.
The truck driver, Michael Vernon, 66, missed a stop sign. The consequences were horrific. Four guys were killed and two more injured. It doesn’t get much worse for running a stop sign.
But let’s tell the truth: it was an accident. A horrific dreadful accident that caused the death of innocents – but still an accident. When millions of people fly around in metal boxes amongst each other, there are going to be collisions.
This was one of them.
Today the driver who caused the deaths died in prison. His sister says he “grieved himself to death’. To me, that is another tragedy, albeit perhaps a lesser one.
But here’s the thing. Am I the only one who finds the public anger at having been cheated of “justice” unsavoury? By justice, the aggrieved, indignant and righteous seem to mean that they didn’t get to put to death Mr Vernon, or impose an effective lifetime prison sentence on him.
Is that justice? Or just revenge?
Worse still, on Channel 12 I had to watch the litigous attorney David Dagget opine about how the victims’ families have been “denied justice”, as if destroying an old man’s life would have been justice. Forgive me, but I don’t care for that man who’s all teeth and tan.
There is no justice in this World. The four guys cannot be brought back, and for all we know Mr Vernon would gladly have given up what was left of his life if he could bring them back. He seems to have been a decent man. The burden of it all crushed him.
The seething anger against him is perhaps understandable, from the families of the victims at least.
But in the end it was just an accident. A horrible, deathly accident.
Perhaps we should add a fifth death to the count.
Michael Vernon.
I have no connection to any of the parties involved. I’m just put off by the grisly fury of those who feel cheated now that Vernon has died, probably of a broken heart.
The whole thing is a tragedy, but the reactions of those who remain tell us a lot.
Austin Morris
So true
This was so well said. Jesus said we must forgive as He forgave us.
Thank you Mr. Morris
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Thank YOU, Ls.
I feel slightly fraudulent because I am not suffering the grief of those whose loved ones were killed, but I believe my sentiments are right and true.
I also try to forgive those who have wronged me, but it’s difficult. And – thank God – I have never had to deal with the huge magnitude of grief that these families are dealing with. I pray that they will find some small solace, somehow.
.
Very well said, Mr. Morris, and may I add an Amen to Ls’s comment.
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone “
I feel the same way you do. Accidents are accidents. It’s not like he did this on purpose. I cannot even begin to imagine the remorse that this man felt over what happened. For the public to brutally crucify him like they did was uncalled for. But if it was them, they would want understanding. They would want mercy. But they’re not willing to give it to anyone else. What happened was a tragedy but like you said, it was still an accident.
Austin Morris,
Very well and logically said.
RIP to all
You nailed it, Mr. Morris. Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree! He didn’t do it on purpose! If God can forgive us for ALL of our sins, we should be able to forgive Mr. Vernon.
As for the families of the men, I am so sorry that you are hurting! I hope that soon you will be able to forgive Mr. Vernon. I truly believe that he did serve, at least, a partial sentence. This probably played in his mind every minute of everyday! Hopefully, your loved ones and Mr. Vernon are at peace now. I pray that you can be at peace soon.
I’m praying for all of you!
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Have y’all noticed that while regular folk call these accidents accidents , the TV and radio media overnight have begun calling them “crashes”? They don’t like the term accident because it implies a lack of culpability, and they are trying to make drivers and driving look heinous and immoral. They hate cars. They love “public transportation” (which is transportation like cattle).
Just notice how real people talk about car accidents, but that term is never, ever used in the media. Obviously, the Memo went out. And they all complied.
Not all ‘crashes’ are accidents. Negligence such as texting while driving, or DUI, etc… are often involved. Not a conspiracy just a common-sense way to describing an incident without deep understanding of the cause.
Not all ‘crashes are ‘accidents’ but all ‘accidents’ are ‘crashes’. See?
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I’m sorry, but you’re just wrong. If a driver is negligently playing with their phone while driving and causes an accident, it’s still an accident. They did not intend to cause a collision. They might also accidentally spill their coffee.
These are accidents, unless of course they are caused by an insurance scammer or a hit man trying to murder somebody.
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And please admit your identity here, Professor Chris. You’re too stupid to carry off a pseudonymous comment.
You know that texting while driving dramatically increases your chance of having an accident. THAT is negligence. Hence, penalties and legal liability increase significantly in NC if texting while driving causes a car accident.
Yes, it is indeed negligent. But – as you yourself said – it’s still an accident.
Is this difficult for you, Professor Chris? You’re really not very smart, are you?
.
PS
Driving while stupid also dramatically increases your chances of having an accident.
Do you want to prohibit low IQ people from driving?
Just keep in mind you can face criminal charges if proven that texting while driving was the cause of an ‘accident’. Criminal negligence….
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Surely it’s the City of Eden staff who are guilty of criminal negligence. They hired a person without a CDL and who had dangerous medical issues.
So you don’t see negligence in a guy knowingly driving without the proper license and a known medical condition that should have excluded himself from driving a large commercial vehicle or really any vehicle for that matter? Certainly, the city has opened itself to liability as they didn’t seem to properly verify the commercial license but not sure how they would have known about his health issue if he simply lied about it on his application?
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Glad you agree that the City of Eden bureaucrats failed to vet him properly.
They should not get a free pass here.
They’re guilty of contributory negligence.
Funny how your claim of ‘But let’s tell the truth: it was an accident’ has suddenly changed now that you learned the facts. LOL
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My position has not changed one iota.
It must be an interesting little world you live in, with your tenuous grip on reality. Your reality perception problems are a classic indicator of mental illness.
The flaw in your letter is obvious.
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…. only to you, buddy. Only to you.
If you watch the news on TV that’s your fault anyway, misinformation and manipulation is one hell of a thing.
First sign you are in a cult is THEY tell you everyone else is lying. LOL
Author: Madelyn Ricket, Published: 4:28 PM EDT May 15, 2025, Updated: 9:43 PM EDT,
May 15, 2025, Facebook WFMY
“EDEN, N.C. — The City of Eden revealed Thursday that the dump truck driver involved in a fatal accident never had a commercial driver’s license, despite it being a job requirement.
The city released the job description and requirements for both of his held positions, … Both listings had a valid commercial driver’s license as a special requirement for the role.
“The city said Michael Ray Vernon never had a commercial driver’s license from the time he was hired in August 2017 to his firing on May 2, 2025.”
“… where he claimed he lost consciousness before the crash — something he said had happened to him before… The City of Eden has also been cited for serious safety violations involving this crash. The North Carolina Department of Labor said the city allowed an employee with a known medical condition to operate a heavy commercial truck. Vernon also did not have a valid CDL.” ( Author: Megan Allman, WFMY News 2 Digital, Published: 9:24 AM EST November 19, 2025, Updated: 6:31 PM EST November 19, 2025).
This was not an accident. The driver did not have a legal CDL, had a previous medical condition that meant he should not have been driving a “heavy commercial vehicle” (or possibly any vehicle), and he “said he lost consciousness before the crash”, which had happened before. Because of these facts, he was charged with misdemeanors in the deaths of the men. He knew better. He knew he had medical issues that made it risky to drive; he knew he couldn’t pass the CDL test, but he chose to drive anyway. No pity. The families didn’t get justice.
So Deborah I can’t imagine how those families feel I would not wish their pain upon anyone, nor the pain that the truck drivers family has to endure each day as they are a part of their community. You say the victim’s families did not receive justice. By your measure what exactly would justice have been.
The initial responsibility sits with the City of Eden’s hiring officials to proceed with the approval to hire the individual who didn’t meet the critical qualifications for a CDL license! (Commenting from experience…retired Recruitment & Employment Mgr, City of Greensboro)
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True.
Why aren’t they being held to account?
Thanks for bring facts to the discussion Deborah. Maybe they will start calling you professor now.
.
How many names are you commenting under, Chris?
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If the victims’ families had managed to destroy what was left of an old man’s life, would that be justice? Or just revenge?
Vernon shouldn’t have been driving that truck. He should have known better, and the incompetent City of Eden bureaucrats should never have given him the job. There’s plenty of malfeasance to go around.
The guy probably needed the money and figured he could get by with it. That’s irresponsible, but it doesn’t make him a murderer. Sometimes I drive unbuckled in my truck, and I figure I can get by with it. That doesn’t make me suicidal.
In a tragedy like this there is never any justice. The killed and injured can’t be brought back, which would be the only real justice. Vernon was not guiltless, but he was not a murderer either. He didn’t mean to kill anyone.
i just found the baying for his blood unsavoury and unchristian.
Interesting! Good point, Deborah.
Just my thoughts on this. The City of Eden is the most culpable in this accident, had their HR dept. did their due diligence then Mr. Vernon would not have been eligible for hire, so therefore the situation would not have occurred. No one is asking for pity, but In this instance compassion for all involved could go a long way.
.
Agreed.
What consequences will there be for the City of Eden bureaucrats who approved him for this job, when he was clearly unqualified and a danger to others? Surely that too is an element of the justice that must be served?
Funny that no-one’s calling for them to be brought to justice, isn’t it?
So the guy who lied isn’t guilty of a crime? If he killed my family members i would want him charged to the fullest extent of the law given, he knowingly shouldn’t have been driving a large commercial vehicle. Looks like you gave this guy a pass before really understanding the facts and now you want to blame the employer for an undisclosed health history but NOT the driver himself?
You seem quick to defend the driver as ‘just an accident’ but now are finger pointing at City of Eden. Weird.
Chris do you know for a fact he lied and if so what did he lie about. I’ve had several jobs involving Co. vehicles and was never asked if I had medical issues or if I had a CDL.
Fair question. I was making an assumption….but just the same, he clearly knew he shouldn’t be driving so it doesn’t excuse his criminal negligence. Hard to believe that a job requiring a commercial drivers licenses doesn’t ask…..but that is a different liability question. Doesn’t excuse the driver either way.
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You “assume” a lot of things, buddy.
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“Chris” is a despicable sly sophist who cynically twists what you say.
I stand by every word I’ve said, and I thank all the sincere and honest commenters here who have applauded me.
“Chris” grossly distorts what people say so he can convince himself that he has scored a point.
He’s a shallow, pitiful, bitter, little creep of a man.
Austin most of us know what “assume” means
Maybe Chris doesn’t but non the less
He’s still a pitiful little wanker. Be safe Austin and keep your powder dry.
Maybe you should take a look in the mirror given the tone of your own comment.
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You might not be aware of Chris’s history. He has a long history of twisting other people’s words, misrepresenting their positions, and “moving the goalposts”, as various other regular commenters describe it. He doesn’t debate here in a quest for truth; he debates here in an attempt to score points, even if that means deliberately mis-stating other people’s positions.
Nobody here likes him, and there’s already another comment under mine calling him a wanker – which is an accurate description.
This has been going on for years.
And thanks, Rebel! Chris is like Herpes. Unpleasant and always here.
Awwwww Boo Boo can’t have his little echo chamber and HAS to read the opinion of people that don’t agree with him…..poor Boo Boo.
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And, as you can see, Chris has the maturity and mentality of a small child.
He is also now commenting under various fake names, since no-one takes comments by “Chris” seriously any more.
I will repeat. You are the morons that started calling me PROFESSOR.
What is your real name Austin?
Austin.
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COMMENT ABOVE :
Austin Morris, February 27th, at 7.10am : “Vernon was not guiltless”.
Chris tries to twist this crystal clear statement into me saying the opposite, that Vernon WAS guiltless – “So the guy who lied isn’t guilty of a crime?” – Chris, March 3rd 8.48pm.
I had already said that Vernon unequivocally bore some guilt, but the M.O. of Chris is to twist your words, lie about what you said, and misrepresent your position.
This is a perfect example of his sly and deceptive sophistry.
Your Words “But let’s tell the truth: it was an accident. A horrific dreadful accident that caused the death of innocents – but still an accident. When millions of people fly around in metal boxes amongst each other, there are going to be collisions.”
No where in your letter do you mention any need for accountability. You start making comments about accountability and justice in your comments only AFTER you learn the facts of the case and suddenly, you want the city held accountable and saying that is what is required for justice after you letter clearly states “There is no justice in this World.”
LOL, just admit your letter was flawed on its face.
FYI, you are the morons that started calling me Professor. LOL
Thanks Austin, you have said perfectly all that needs to be said about Chris. And to Mr. Park, I’m not sure what “tone” you are referring to in my previous comment but I can look into my mirror and sleep very peaceful at night as I have a clear mind as I stand behind what I think and believe. Can you sir,say the same.
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“Professor” or “Chris” or whatever name he’s hiding behind, is a joke.
He manages to get everything wrong. I never began calling him “Professor”, it was someone else, but the name stuck because he’s such a didactic pompous ass.
I prefer “Quarrelsome Chris”, but either moniker is apt.
I don’t even understand the relevance of the rest of his comment. He was caught red handed distorting what I actually said.
It’s here in black & white.
Busted.
LOL Rebel thinks Parks was responding to him. You do know how the indentations work in the email string? LOL
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LOL INDEED ! Chris is wrong again, as he mocks Rebel for misunderstanding the format when it is Chris who has it wrong !
Rebel was clearly responding to me, not Charles Park. Rebel even referred to me by name in his response (Rebel, March 4, 6.41pm).
Don’t you love it when condescending pompous jerks display their stupidity as they’re accusing others of being stupid? LOL, LOL, LOL…
You’re a moron, Chris.
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And Rebel has the right to refer to any comment, directed at him or not.
LOL, he claimed to be responding to Mr Parks who was not replying to him….he clearly mistook the comment being directed at him. LOL But I don’t really care. LOL
Have fun and relax for change. Nothing said he matters.
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Has everyone noticed how quickly the discussion goes downhill once “Chris” or “Professor” weighs in?
He drags down the debate as no-one else does.
Really Professor Chris, that’s all you have to crow about today. You really are a sad little specimen of a man. Your personality reminds me of a couple of people in history I used to teach about. You can be Napoleon or Hitler. It’s called the Little Man persona. You choose which one you want to be called.
And Professor, in case you’re wondering. I personally sleep very soundly at night, I doubt you can say that
Awwww you think your personal attacks matter to me in the slightest? How cute.
Professor I personally could give a rats butt if what I say or think matters to you
You certainly seem to have a very strong emotional response to my comments. LMAO
I feel very much the same when you dive in with your hate filled use of childish names and personal attacks.
But you be you
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I don’t hate you.
I pity you.
Perfect answer Austin, I feel the same way.
I pity the people that have known you (whatever your real name is) in the real world. LMAO
Vengeance is mine, says the Lord!!!
Chris you do remember I’ve invited you to come and meet some of my friends that are as you said moonshine swilling Rednecks