The quiet community of Selma, North Carolina was rocked Wednesday evening when 29‑year‑old lineman James P. Rudzki, of nearby Wendell, lost his life in a tragic hit‑and‑run at a utility work zone. Despite the presence of traffic control personnel, a flatbed truck carrying a large water tank ignored the stop signal and drove into low‑hanging wires around 5:20 p.m. on Live Oak Church Road, entangling the work crew’s equipment and causing Rudzki to fall to the pavement with fatal injuries.
Rudzki was on site with his employer, Pike Electric, assisting a crew installing power lines when the incident occurred. Traffic‑control staff had directed the truck to stop because of the overhead wires, but the flatbed proceeded, caught the wires, and dragged them into the work area. Rudzki was struck amid the chaos and pronounced dead at the scene. Another lineman sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the truck fled southbound from the scene and was last observed turning onto Buffalo Road toward Clayton, North Carolina. Investigators described the vehicle as a flatbed designed to haul a large water‑tank or septic‑style vessel, heavy and difficult to stop in time once moving.
Pike Electric released a statement expressing deep sorrow: “Our hearts go out to James’s family and loved ones, as well as to our employees, especially those on site and the emergency personnel who responded.” They confirmed an internal investigation is underway into the root cause of the incident.
Neighbors say the stretch of Live Oak Church Road has been under active construction for days, with flags, cones, and traffic control present. “They’ve had the flags and people a lot of times,” said resident Charles Dodge. “Most anybody who’s been up and down this road over the past few weeks should have been prepared to slow down.”
The community is reeling not only from the sudden loss of a dedicated young worker but from the knowledge that a preventable act of negligence may be to blame. Rudzki, remembered for his kindness and steady work ethic, leaves behind grieving family, coworkers, and friends who say his laughter and dependable spirit touched their lives.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the truck or driver to contact the Highway Patrol’s Communications Center in Raleigh at (919) 733‑3861. The plea underscores how vital community tips are in helping bring closure—and potentially justice—to a tragedy that has shaken the heart of the local utility‑crew community.
