Man Who Survived Garner ConAgra Plant Explosion Killed In Crash

A man who survived the recent ConAgra plant explosion in Garner died of the personal injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident on June 30.

On the day of the explosion, 39-year-old James Evans was preparing to start a machine in the packaging section of the south building, where the blast occurred.

In the June 9 incident, three people died and dozens more suffered personal injuries. However, Evans, a plant supervisor and father of twins, made it out alive.

Exactly three weeks lately, Evans was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Taylor said the crash occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on June 30 on N.C. 42 in Garner. He said three vehicles were involved.

According to Taylor, at that time a cement truck owned by S.T. Wooten in Wilmington was southbound on Rock Service Station Road, Evans was northbound on a 1995 Honda motorcycle, and a Kia minivan was westbound on N.C. 42. The van failed to stop for a stop sign and collided with Evans, ejecting him from the bike. He landed in the road and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The minivan’s driver, 58-year-old Willow Spring resident Catherine Girouard, suffered minor injuries and 42-year-old Fuquay-Varina resident Randy Campbell, the driver of the cement truck, was uninjured, according to Taylor.

Taylor said Girouard has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle.