FORMER MAYOR IN CAR ACCIDENT

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Parts of Lincolnton were plunged in darkness Friday afternoon for several hours, after a one-car accident took out a utility pole in front of the Lincoln County Schools' school bus garage on North Aspen Street.

And The Carolina Scoop has learned former Lincolnton mayor Bobby Huitt was the person involved in the accident.

Huitt was traveling south towards Lincolnton around 12:30 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the utility pole. Sources told The Carolina Scoop in the moments prior to the accident, Huitt suffered a minor stroke.

Family members said late Friday night Huitt was at Gaston Memorial Hospital and that he seemed to be doing fine, saying Huitt was "back to his old self."

Power was cut to part of Lincolnton for more than four hours Friday. Employees of the Walmart on North Generals Boulevard were sitting in front of the business, telling customers the store is closed.

Employees at the Bi-Lo next door to Walmart were holding signs that said "open."

Several restaurants -- including Ryan's Steakhouse, Japan, and Zippers -- were without power. The Subway in the Walmart shopping center, however, had power.

Huitt came in third in the 2007 democratic mayoral primary, losing to Lincolnton attorney David Black and former Lincolnton Police chief Tommy Burgin.