Black Mountain businesses to raise money for Olinger family
Donations to mark ‘terrible anniversary’ of downtown crash
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 26, 2021
The Town Hardware & General Store is one of several local businesses marking the four-year anniversary of a tragic collision in the intersection of State Street and Montreat Road by donating a percentage of proceeds to the Olinger family. Photo by Fred McCormick
Town Hardware & General Store owners Beth and Peter Ballhaussen will never forget Feb. 27, 2017, the day Black Mountain was rocked by a terrible and tragic collision in the very center of town. A reckless driver, reportedly traveling 100 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour, drove through the intersection of Montreat Road and State Street and crashed into the car of Britten Olinger.
The impact of the collision, which left the Montreat College track and field coach paralyzed after fighting for his life, propelled debris through the windows of Town Hardware and throughout the store. As the four-year anniversary of that night arrives Saturday, the Ballhaussens will be among several business owners marking the occasion by raising money for the Olinger family.
Town Hardware, La Guinguette and Mountain Running Co. (formerly Vertical Runner Black Mountain) will each donate 10% of their proceeds on Feb. 27 to Olinger, his wife and two children.
“I will never forget that night,” Beth said, calling this Saturday “a terrible anniversary.”
“However, we designate this day to raise money for the Olingers because this tragedy was something that shook the entire community,” she said. “As awful as it was, the entire community rallied around the family and it was inspiring to see that kind of unity, especially at such a divisive time.”
Students and athletes from Montreat College boarded up the windows of Town Hardware after the collision and painted messages of love and support for the young coach. The Ballhaussens have marked every anniversary since by donating a percentage of their sales to the Olingers.
“Imagine the number of people he impacted through his work in the community before this happened,” Beth said. “The Olinger family is inspirational by the definition of the word.”
Across the street, Mountain Running Co. is another local business designating a portion of its sales to the family of the coach, who gradually resumed his duties with the Cavaliers program beginning in the fall of 2017.
Mountain Running Co., formerly known as Vertical Runner Black Mountain, will donate 10% of its sales this Saturday to Montreat College track and field coach Britten Olinger and his family. Photo by Fred McCormick
“What happened to Britten Olinger that night resonated deeply in this community,” said owner Shaun Pope, who added that he made the decision to donate to the family upon realizing the significance of Saturday’s date. “It was right on the main road and it was a tragedy suffered by a person who is highly involved in the community, coaching young adults and impacting lives. The fact that the family is still here, and thriving in this community, is a big reason we wanted to support them in this way.”
The anniversary of the event highlights the response of caring friends and neighbors, not the tragedy itself, according to Pope.
“That moment was a significant one in this town, and one that most people will never forget,” he said. “But, a big part of what I remember about what happened four years ago was how the community really got behind this family to support and take care of them during a difficult time.”
French and Latin café La Guinguette will collect donations and donate 10% of lunch and dinner sales to the Olinger family. Photo by Fred McCormick
La Guinguette, a French and Latin café on Richardson Boulevard, will collect donations and give 10% of Saturday’s lunch and dinner sales to the Olinger family.
“We are excited to be a part of this,” said an employee of the eatery. “The day will be all about helping the Olingers.”
Below is a list of local businesses that will support the Olinger family by donating a portion of sales, Saturday, Feb. 27:
Town Hardware & General Store - 103 West State Street
Mountain Running Co. (formerly Vertical Runner Black Mountain) - 106 West State Street
La Guinguette - 105 Richardson Boulevard