LINCOLNTON BICYCLIST INJURED IN ACCIDENT
Driver of Car Speaks Exclusively with The Carolina Scoop

By Jon Mayhew

UNION -- A Lincolnton man bicycling on Reepsville Road near Seagletown Road is struck by a car Monday around 6:15 p.m., and the driver of the car who hit him speaks exclusively with The Carolina Scoop.

As driver Kevin Douglas Kilpatrick, 37, of Gold Rush Drive, Lincolnton, looked at his damaged vehicle, his thoughts were only of the bicyclist Kilpatrick said he didn't see, identified by the North Carolina Highway Patrol as Chadwick Todd Wallace, 45, of Louise Avenue, Lincolnton.

"I didn't see him," said Kilpatrick. "The sun was blinding me when I came over the hill."

The Union Fire Department was called to the scene, along with the North Carolina Highway Patrol and Lincoln County EMS. Traffic was blocked on Reepsville Road and drivers were told to turn around as authorities worked the accident scene. The road was finally opened to traffic after 7 p.m. Monday.

Kilpatrick said he knew something was wrong when his windshield shattered on the passenger's side of his white Chevrolet. The impact of the crash pushed the bicycle across Reepsville Road; meantime, the same impact slammed Wallace into the road.

Kilpatrick thought Wallace's injuries were serious.

"He didn't move for several minutes," said a still-shaking Kilpatrick. "Man, I hope he's okay."

Kilpatrick wasn't injured; however, he was clearly shaken up from the accident.

Someone picked the bicycle up off the ground and carried the mangled bike to an awaiting pickup truck. There was no back wheel on the bicycle. It was gone.

As NCHP trooper J.M. Futrell investigated the accident, he took statements from a witness to the accident as well as Kilpatrick.

Kilpatrick's vehicle was left of center on Reepsville Road, feet from impact.

Kilpatrick will be cited for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Wallace, meantime, was taken by Lincoln County EMS to Catawba Valley Medical Center. There wasn't a condition available on Wallace as of Monday night.