Charges will not be filed against a Rowan County man involved in a traffic accident that left his nephew dead.
District Attorney Bill Kenerly said Monday, that Gilbert Wayne Miller, 4475 Goodman Lake Road, will not face charges in the death of 29-year-old Mark Miller.
The fatal crash occurred Dec. 9, as Mark Miller drove his John Deere tractor along Beagle Club Road.
According to the N.C. Highway Patrol’s investigation, Gilbert Miller didn’t see the tractor as he also traveled down Beagle Club Road.
It was around 5:30 p.m. when Gilbert Miller’s 1994 Dodge van collided with the tractor, according to the Highway Patrol’s report.
The tractor was pushed off the road and landed on top of Mark Miller, who died at the scene.
The district attorney’s decision comes as a relief for the victim’s family, who did not want to press charges.
“I think that’s wonderful,” Mark Miller’s mother, Donnell, said of Kenerly’s decision.
Gilbert Miller is her husband’s brother. He could not be reached this morning for comment.
“Gilbert is paying his price way beyond anything. People will never know what he is going through,” Donnell said.
“I wish there were something I could do to help him,” she said.
Craig Dukes, Mark Miller’s boss at McKenzie Sports Products in Granite Quarry issued a statement regarding the impact Miller’s death has had on the company.
“Mark was a leader in our work force. He was a veteran employee of 10 years; you could always count on Mark to be there, whatever the task might be.His work ethics were second to none, he was an outstanding co-worker, and he was our friend.”
The statement went on to read, “Mark’s kindness, generosity and friendship will desperately be missed.”
Donnell Miller said McKenzie Sports Products has been wonderful to her family through the ordeal.
The company is working to establish the Mark Miller Future Farmers of America Scholarship at his alma mater East Rowan High School.
Mark Miller met his girlfriend, Sherry Tucker, at McKenzie.
“It’s a loss on everyone’s part. We just want everyone to know the love and affection of everyone and God above we can’t ask for anything more,” Sherry Tucker said.
“He will definitely be missed in my life. After losing such a dear friend like that it’s hard to go on,” Tucker said.
“He’d always say keep knockin’, ” Tucker said.
Tucker agreed that charges should not be filed against Gilbert Miller.
“His uncle is having a hard enough time and Mark would not want that,” she said. “Wayne (Gilbert) loved him like a son.”
Tucker was at Mark Miller’s home the night of the tragic crash. She was waiting for him to come back home so they could go to Ichiban’s and eat their Sunday dinner as they did as long as she could remember.
“I keep thinking if I’d only said ‘Don’t go,’ ” she says remembering the last time she saw him. She chuckles a little, “He probably would have gone anyway… he loved being on that tractor.”
Today's News
