Death Of Backhoe Operator Ruled Accidental

The death of a 74 year-old Four Oaks man who died while operating a backhoe on Wednesday was ruled as an accidental death on Thursday.

Charles Clifton Peterson, 74, was operating a backhoe on his property at 508 Reedy Creek Road, off Highway 210 near Four Oaks, around 1:41pm Wednesday when the backhoe overturned. Peterson died at the scene.

Peterson was exactly one week away from his 75th birthday.   The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident.