Truck can't avoid bicycle, killing Youngsville man instantly in Friday wreck

A Youngsville man killed Friday was known to longtime residents throughout the northern Wake/southern Franklin County area and to newcomers who took notice of the bicycling gentleman.

The son of a former Youngsville High School principal, Foster Kenion "Huckie" Carswell, 75, could often be seen riding his bike back and forth between Wake Forest and Youngsville and to his most recent job at Strickland Auto Sales.

"He was just a fixture around town," said Peggy Allen, former Wake Weekly editor. "He was friendly; not a bad bone in his body."

Carswell died Friday afternoon as he rode toward Wake Forest on the grassy shoulder of North White Street just yards south of the county line. State Trooper J.S. Smith said several witnesses have stated that "for some reason (Carswell's) bicycle fell into" the side of a '69 Chevrolet truck also heading south and driven by James Johnson of Wake Forest.

"We're thinking he hit a hole and fell into the side of the truck and that's when he fell out into the street," Smith said.

A second truck, driven by James Cartlidge, also of Wake Forest, swerved to avoid Carswell but could not stop in time and struck him, Smith said.

The day following the accident, Smith had not determined whether any charges would be filed. No decision would be made, he said, until he interviewed all the witnesses, including the driver of a cement truck who claimed to have seen what happened. Smith said neither truck driver was impaired and did not appear to be exceeding the speed limit. Sunlight did not appear to be a factor, he said, as the accident occurred around 4:15 p.m.

Wake Forest police and firefighters were the first to respond and taped off the area pending the arrival of state troopers. Carswell's body was covered with a sheet, but the twisted wreckage of his bicycle protruded from the fabric.

Smith said some sort of medical problem could have caused Carswell to fall into the first truck, but a decision about whether to conduct an autopsy would be made by the state medical examiner.

"It just happened to be a terrible accident," he said.

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In what is either a strange coincidence or an unbelievable misdeed, Youngsville police have charged a local man they say burglarized Carswell's Railroad Street home three hours after he was killed.

Police Chief Larry Pritchett would not discuss the details of the case, including what was taken from the house, saying the incident was still under investigation.

He did confirm that Sherman Calvin Cannady, 43, 115 W. Main Street, was arrested at Railroad and Persimmon streets about 7:20 p.m. last Friday and charged with second-degree burglary by Officers S.R. Moore and R.K. Ezzell.

Cannady was taken to the Franklin County Jail and placed under a $20,000 secured bond. His first court date is set for Jan. 14.