Local News - June 2003

Man killed in 2-car collision

Published June 2, 2003

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

A 76-year-old Mount Holly man died Friday after an automobile accident in western Lincoln County.

Lewis Baxter Bland, 2323 Old Highway 27, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after emergency officials arrived.

A passenger in his vehicle, Emma Rogers, 78, of 3050 Perfection Place Court, Belmont, was transported to Cleveland Regional Medical Center in guarded condition, according to Michael Keller, Lincoln County EMS operations manager.

The driver of a second vehicle involved, Susan Kiser Wehunt, 2385 Norman Parker Road, Cherryville, was also taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center in guarded condition.

The accident occurred at the intersection of N.C. 182 and N.C. 274 at about 7:40 p.m., Keller said.

Wehunt was traveling north on N.C. 274, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Bland was traveling west on N.C. 182. He stopped at the intersection of N.C. 182 and N.C. 274, then began to drive through. He pulled in front of Wehunt’s vehicle, and the two collided.

A LCEMS ambulance arrived on the scene at 7:50 p.m. to find the two vehicles off the road. Both had major damage, Keller said.

Bland’s vehicle, a 2001 Mazda pick-up truck, had sustained a rollover and was resting on the driver’s side, Keller said.

Bland was entrapped and in critical condition, Keller said. He died prior to extrication.

Rogers and Wehunt were treated by LCEMS paramedics before being taken to Cleveland Regional.

Everyone was wearing seat belts, troopers said.

LCEMS was assisted by North Brook Fire Department and West Lincoln Rescue Squad.

The incident remains under the investigation by the highway patrol, but troopers said no charges have been filed.

A second accident later that night sent one person to the hospital in stable condition.

Keller gave this account:

At 10:57 p.m., LCEMS was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash in front of 6778 Campground Road in eastern Lincoln County.

The ambulance arrived at 11:02 p.m. to find a single vehicle off the roadway and at rest on its wheel against some pine trees.

The vehicle had sustained multiple rollovers.

LCEMS cared for the occupant of the vehicle, a 21-year-old male.

“He was a very lucky young man,” Keller said. “The amount of damage sustained by the vehicle could have caused severe injuries.”

The patient was treated at the scene and transported to Lincoln Medical Center in stable condition.

The man’s name was not available at presstime. The incident is under investigation by the highway patrol.

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