Three Killed in Van Crash Carrying Metal Bands Wormreich + Khaotika
Three people have died in a van crash that occurred Monday morning (April 6) in northeast Georgia, and according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the van was carrying members of the metal bands Wormreich and Khaotika.
Update: According to NBC News, the deceased rockers have been identified as Khaotika drummer Nicholas Chrisostomo and Wormreich guitarists Ian McKinney and Paul Truesdale. In addition, the driver of the van has been identified as Khaotika guitarist Sergio J. Quesada, who was the only person in the vehicle who was not injured. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has listed the names of the eight additional passengers who were injured in the crash here.
Authorities report that the wreck occurred around 7AM on I-85 southbound nearly Maysville Road in Jackson County, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta. Georgia State patrol Cpl. Scott Smith stated that the two bands were traveling in a 15 passenger van and that the driver "apparently fell asleep and allowed the vehicle to leave the roadway, at which time the vehicle struck a tree on the passenger side." Three of the van's occupants were ejected from the vehicle.
The officer stated that there were three fatalities, while eight other people were taken to Athens Regional Hospital and Northeast Georgia Medical Center, three of which were in critical condition. The driver of the van was reportedly uninjured.
Wormreich and Khaotika had both just performed on Sunday in Spartanburg, S.C., and were on their way to Atlanta for a show on Monday night. A third band on the tour, Kult ov Azazel, posted that the Monday show in Atlanta had been canceled and that their thoughts were with those involved and their families.
A tweet of the accident scene from FOX 5 in Atlanta can be seen below:
We'd like to send our condolences to all those involved and directly affected by this horrific tragedy. Stay tuned as more details are released. In the meantime, more information about both bands can be found here.
Rockers We Lost in 2014