HEAD-ON WRECK SENDS TWO TO HOSPITAL
Alcohol a factor in accident

Photo by Adam Diaz/TCS
North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers investigated a head-on collision Wednesday night that sent two people to the hospital.

By Jon Mayhew

UNION -- The 1300 block of Reepsville Road was shut down for more than an hour Wednesday around 6 p.m., after two Ford pickups collided head-on in an accident where alcohol was a factor, according to authorities.

North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper J.M. Futrell identified the two drivers as Reginald Hunsucker, 40, of Palm Tree Drive, Vale, and Ricky Lane, 48, of Burris Lane, Lincolnton.

Futrell was able to speak to both victims before they were taken to Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln with non life-threatening injuries.

"Mr. Hunsucker told me he had been drinking," said Futrell, adding his girlfriend confirmed the information that Hunsucker had been at Zipper's on Vandiver Drive before leaving.

Futrell said there weren't any skid marks prior to impact. Hunsucker was traveling around 55 miles per hour when he struck Lane's vehicle. Lane was going around 25 miles per hour at time of impact.

Witness Matt Sipe said he knew something was wrong when Hunsucker ran the stoplight near Lincolnton High School.

Sipe called the Lincoln County Communications Center, who initially dispatched the call as a careless and reckless driver.

"I followed the guy because I thought he was drunk," said Sipe, adding Hunsucker nearly ran several cars off the road and clipped a mailbox before running off the road on Reepsville Road.

According to Sipe, the entire time Hunsucker was driving without his headlights on.

Sipe had stopped his vehicle as the two pickups collided. Sipe said the impact of the crash sent both vehicles into the air.

Several Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies were on their way to try and intercept Hunsucker. Sgt. J. Cody was one of the deputies who was preparing to turn around on Reepsville Road when the crash happened.

"As I was turning around, I saw the accident happen," said Cody, breathing a sigh of relief that he or other deputies weren't actually involved in the accident itself.

Futrell cited Hunsucker with driving while impaired; careless and reckless driving; driving left of center; and failure to burn headlights.

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