Victims in fatal Conover crash are identified

District attorney’s office to review investigation results, decide on charges

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 15, 2009

CONOVER - Police have released the names of two people killed in a car crash Saturday.

Mitchell Hoyle, 67, of Forest City, and David Bartolotta, 61, of San Francisco, Calif., were killed in the wreck on Thornburg Drive, the Conover Police Department said.

Mitchell was driving a Chrysler LeBaron. He was coming off the Interstate 40 exit, turning onto Thornburg Drive, when a Chevy Suburban traveling north onto Thornburg Drive, NE, hit the driver's side door of the Chrysler. The Chrysler flipped onto its top in the median. Mitchell and Bartolotta died at the scene, according to police. Both victims were wearing their seatbelts, said Lt. Larry Waters with Conover police.

The Suburban was driven by Matthew Elmore, 24, of Conover. There were six other passengers in the vehicle. According to police reports, they were taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center, where they were treated and released for their minor injuries.

Police are still investigating the wreck, and the results will be reviewed by the district attorney's office for any potential charges.