GAS PANIC CONTINUES IN LINCOLN
AAA Urges Residents to Remain Calm

Photo by Adam Diaz/The Carolina Scoop

By Adam Diaz and Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Residents of Lincoln County have been lining up for gas. Some stations have a limited supply, while others are out of gas.

The Raceway, on East Main Street near Highway 321, had cars lined up as early as 8 p.m. Sunday, waiting for a shipment of gas.

Motorists were still waiting for the shipment of gas as of 2 a.m. Monday.

Most of the cars waiting were on "E" on empty; they had no other choice but to wait.

"We have to wait since we have no choice," said one motorist.

The Carolina Scoop's advertising designer, Shane Manier, waited in line with other motorists.

She called the experience "horrible"

Photo by Adam Diaz/The Carolina Scoop

"Every pump had a car waiting in line," said Manier. "Most people weren't willing to wait."

One motorist became so impatient, he backed into another vehicle.

Patrick Patterson was one of the motorists who weren't willing to wait for gas.

"This is affecting my second job," said Patterson. "Provisions should have been made in advance for the hurricane. An effort should have been made to prevent these gas lines from happening again."


Photo by Adam Diaz/The Carolina Scoop

Many of the cars waiting were Sport Utility Vehicles and other fuel un-friendly vehicles.

The Carolina Scoop noticed several tankers passing by overnight Monday; one motorist pulled out of line to follow. Authorities were also checking around the Raceway to ensure things were moving smoothly.

The gas didn't arrive until 3:37 a.m.

Doris Shores was the clerk on duty at Raceway and said since the store's been out of gas, business has been cut in half.

"People have been coming in to buy snacks and drinks," said Shores. "It hasn't been as much as when we've had fuel."

Tempers have flared to the point where automobile accidents have been caused. Shores remembers last Thursday, when a woman left frustrated at the situation.

"She peeled out of here and ended up having a wreck on the Highway 321 bridge," said Shores.

As of Monday night, Raceway was out of fuel again. They didn't know when their next shipment would arrive. The same can be said for Westside Mart at the corner of Reepsville and Startown Roads.

While Westside Mart was out of regular gas, they still had diesel fuel.

"The supply there is running short," said one store employee.