EDEN, N.C. — Families of the four linemen killed in April’s deadly crash in Eden say they finally feel a sense of progress after a grand jury returned indictments upgrading the charges against the former dump truck driver accused of causing the wreck.

Michael Ray Vernon, 66, now faces four counts of second-degree murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Deputies arrested him Tuesday night, and he remains in the Rockingham County Detention Center under a $1.6 million secured bond.

Investigators say Vernon ran a stop sign in a City of Eden dump truck on April 24, striking six linemen working on power infrastructure. Four men were killed: Doug Sides, Madison Carter, Will Evans, and 30-year-old Matthew “Mattie” Lockwood.

For Lockwood’s best friend,

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