Police aren’t certain whether Gregory Scott Garner, 36, of Aberdeen suffered a heart attack that caused the accident or had a heart attack as a result of the wreck.
Garner was driving a 2001 Dodge truck south on Bethesda Road near Barnell Drive about noon Monday. Witnesses said the vehicle, which was not traveling at high speed, suddenly veered to the left and ran off the road.
The truck sideswiped several trees and then struck another before coming to a rest. Officers learned from family members that Garner had a heart condition.
“There is no other reason for it to happen,” Lt. James Foster said. “Something happened to him.”
Officers didn’t order a complete autopsy as they would for a homicide. Foster said officers requested a preliminary autopsy, just to determine the cause of death. Police did not know when they would receive the autopsy report.
Garner was born in Moore County. He lived near the Moore-Hoke county line He was a construction worker for Creed Roofing Company. He enjoyed golf, NASCAR and St. Bernards.
