News Flash

Russell L. Cutrell, an equipment operator with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities, died late Monday night after the sewer wash truck he was driving left the roadway and turned over en route to a service call. He was 59 and had worked for Utilities since November 2017.

James L. Glisson Jr., a coworker who was a passenger in the truck, survived. 

The accident occurred about 11:34 p.m. Monday on Friedberg Church Road, near Candlewood Drive, outside the Winston-Salem city limits. The N.C. Highway Patrol responded and notified city officials of the accident about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Cutrell and Glisson were the on-call crew and were responding to a call to repair a sewer pipe, said Utilities Director Courtney Driver.

“Speaking personally and for everyone in Utilities, I was greatly saddened to hear of Russell’s death,” Driver said. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, his son Tanner who also works in our Utilities Field Operations division, and the rest of his family. Russell was dedicated to his job and to serving the community. Like many of our personnel who respond at all hours when there is a water or sewer emergency, he was an unsung hero.”

As with any accident involving city vehicles, the city’s Safety and Risk Management staffs are investigating the accident. The N.C. Division of Occupational Safety and Health has been notified of the accident.