Three Dead in Van Wreck Carrying Two Bands, Wormreich and Khaotika
UPDATE, 3:23pm EDT: Metal Insider is reporting that Khaotika vocalist Lariyah Hayes needed surgery, but her injuries were non-life threatening and she is in recovery. The names of the three deceased have not yet been released. A fund for the survivors of the crash and their families has been set up for those wishing to donate, and updates are being posted there as well.
Original post:
AJC.com is reporting that a van carrying two bands — Wormreich and Khaotika — careened off I-85 in Georgia at 7am this morning. The driver, who has still not been identified, “apparently fell asleep and allowed the vehicle to leave the roadway, at which time the vehicle struck a tree on the passenger side,” according to Georgia State Patrol Cpl. Scott Smith.
In a weird way, despite us not being previously familiar with either band, this news is more difficult to convey than any of the myriad van wrecks we’ve covered over the years, horrific though they all are. For one, we’re sure the surviving bandmembers and their families would much rather have been getting all this attention on the merits of their music — we’ve never covered either band save for a brief mention of Wormreich’s latest album Wormcult Revelations in our weekly new release column almost exactly a year ago — but, more so, three talented, young musicians DIED just as their careers were getting started. When we usually hear about van wrecks there’s often a heartening disqualifier: “We lost all of our gear and belongings, but thankfully everyone’s alright except for a few scrapes and bruises!” Knowing that three talented musicians died this morning while traveling in the name of doing what they — and we all — love makes this an incrdibly difficult pill to swallow.
We’ll keep you apprised of any additional information about the accident and any memorials as they comes to light. In the meantime, we give our best to the surviving bandmembers and their friends and families, from everyone at the MetalSucks Mansion.
