THURSDAY UPDATE: FUNERAL SET FOR FALLEN SERGEANT
Flags are flying at half-staff as the Union County Sheriff’s Office waits for answers about what happened.
WATCH: Flags at half-staff after Sgt. Jeff Greene killed in wreck
Sgt. Jeffrey Greene is the first Union County deputy to ever die while on the job.
"Jeff Greene was a personal friend, a family man and a valuable member of our Sheriff's Office family," said Sheriff Eddie Cathey in a statement. "His loss is a tragedy, not only to his family and friends, but to the citizens of Union County. His orientation of service to the community was a quality that should be embraced and emulated by us all. He will be missed."
The driver of a tractor-trailer flipped onto Greene’s cruiser on Highway 74. The driver of the truck, Eddie Weeks, is facing misdemeanor death by vehicle charges.
RAW: Accident involving tractor-trailer and deputy shuts down I-74
Channel 9 reporters found an outpouring of support for the 10-year veteran and his family as state troopers worked to provide answer about the accident itself.
MONROE, N.C. — “It’s just devastating,” neighbor Kim Harper said. “It just made our hearts sick because he was such a great man. He was a great guy. I just can’t say enough about him. He was a great man. He really was, would do anything for you.”
The nightmare unfolded in front of Elaine Gazoo’s windshield. She was just a few cars behind the tractor-trailer and watched as it began to lose control.
Troopers said Greene was waiting to turn left onto Sutherland Avenue from Highway 74. Next to him was another driver in a Kia and a tanker truck, investigators said.
As they all sat at the stop light, troopers said Eddie Weeks failed to stop his semi as he approached the light.
IMAGES: Tractor-trailer overturns onto Union Co. deputy's cruiser
“He didn't see and didn't stop in time. He then jackknifed and the truck and trailer fell over top of the deputy sheriff’s car,” said North Carolina State Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Leach.
Gazoo snapped a picture seconds after impact. She managed to move her car away from the smoking wreckage, but said the images remain burned in her brain.
Troopers said the deputy died on scene in the cruiser.
“I think it's important for everyone to just hug your loved ones, be very, very extra careful,” Gazoo said.
Channel 9 cameras were there as Weeks was taken to jail Wednesday evening after being released from Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. The driver of the Kia was taken to CMC-Union.
RAW: Man charged in connection to sergeant's death walked into jail
After the accident, witnesses told Channel 9 they jumped into action to help him and the others involved.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol accident reconstruction team flew in from Raleigh to help with the investigation.
Weeks has had his commercial motor vehicle license for nearly 20 years and it has never been revoked, according to sources.
During that time, Weeks was given five citations and he has been involved in at least three crashes including one last year, also on Highway 74 in Union County.
Weeks was charged with failure to reduce speed causing an accident with injuries but those charges were thrown out by the DA’s office, which is a common practice.
In honor of Greene, Heroes Memorial Foundation is sponsoring a Lights on Event on facebook. From now until he is laid to rest, we ask all people to turn on their porch light in his honor.
To become part of this event, click here. Heroes Memorial Foundation Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 corporation based in Okeechobee, Florida.
Fellow deputies remember Sgt. Greene
Flags at the Union County Sheriff's Office were lowered to half-staff and officials said this was the first time the agency has lost a deputy in the line of duty.
Heartbroken deputies rushed to the scene as they learned one of their own was involved in the wreck.
Channel 9 reporter Tina Terry talked with fellow deputies who said Greene was so dedicated to his job that he was often the first person to arrive for work and the last to leave.
“He was a good man. He gave to the community,” said Union County Sheriff’s Capt. Cody Luke.
“It affects us very deeply,” said Union County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ben Bailey.
Greene, 54, started his career with the Sheriff’s Office in December 2004. He quickly rose up the ranks, making sergeant in 2006.
One of his major roles at the department was helping oversee sex offenders in the county.
Fellow officers said sex offender registration was something Greene took very seriously. He coordinated several campaigns and partnerships with the U.S. marshal service to make sure registered offenders obeyed the law.
"He was the guy that was here before the rest and the last who left this office," said Luke
"You go out knowing anything can happen. You just pray that it doesn't happen that day that you get to go home to your family," said Bailey.
Greene is survived by his wife, April, children Nicolle and Allison, and five grandchildren.
Before becoming a deputy, Greene served in the Air Force and the Marines Corps. He lived and died serving others.
See more trending stories at wsoctv.com:
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
