North Carolina Department of Correction - Correction News - December 1998
Iredell Correctional Officer killed in accident
Correctional Officer Mike Anthony was killed Oct 27 in an accident along I-77 in Iredell County while supervising a road squad.
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"Losing Mike was like losing a
member of the family," said Iredell Correctional
Center Superintendent Craig Hilliard. "He was a good
father, a good husband and a good son. He was an
outstanding correctional officer." Hilliard, Anthony and other staff had joined in a golf tournament the day before the accident. Hilliard and Anthony were friends who shared a love of sports and had children that were the same age. Anthony worked at Iredell Correctional Center for eleven years and had worked as a road squad officer for eight years. At the time of his death, he was a lead officer. |
Anthony and Officer Greg Bacote were supervising a squad of eight prisoners working on an interstate embankment at the 32-mile marker about three miles south of Mooresville. The rear tandem tire and wheel came off a North Wilkesboro lumber company truck and struck Anthony who was standing about 11 feet off the roadway.
Anthony was rushed to a Mooresville hospital, but he died from the injuries he suffered in the accident.
More than 500 people attended funeral services for Anthony at Sandy Springs Baptist Church Oct 30. Correction staff from other prisons freed Iredell staff to attend. They lined the walkway from the church as the DOC Honor Guard carried Anthony’s casket to the hearse.
Anthony’s family and correction employees returned to the site of the accident Nov. 2 for a memorial service. Hilliard led the service telling the crowd of 60 people gathered along the highway that Anthony was a church member, a coach of youth baseball and basketball teams and a friend to everyone he met. With an officer sounding taps, they placed flowers and a cross bearing Anthony’s name and the likeness of his badge by the road.
Hilliard offered his thanks to Department of Transportation, State Highway Patrol and Iredell Sheriff’s Department for their safety precautions closing down a lane of the interstate during the memorial service.
Anthony is survived by his wife, Lynne and their children, a 15-year old daughter and 10-year old son.