WILSON, Minn. – A band tour bus left the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 and slid into the grassy median, trapping the Blues Traveler band inside. First-responders opened up the bus and freed the band members and crew. Taken to the Winona hospital, 10 miles away, were harmonicist John Popper, 54, and crew members David Derrick, 51 and Mateo Rodriguez, 39. While still trapped in the bus, Popper, the band’s frontman, messaged: “Everything hurts. I think we’re stuck on the bus. We’re all going to get checked, but we’re still trying to get the fucking door open, More later.” At the hospital Rodriguez was treated for a shoulder injury. Derrick was less seriously hurt. Unhurt were Parker Ellwood Jonathan, 60, of Bremen, Georgia, the driver; Brendan Hill, 51, drummer; Chandler Kinchla, 52, guitarist; Benjamin Wilson, 53. keyboardist; Thaddeus Kinchla, 48, bassist; and crew members Sean Cockrell, 38; Theodore Keedick, 61; and Amanda Smith, 33.
Verbatim
Popper, still at hospital: “I am largely fine, just beat to shit. I am finally cleared from any internal bleeding or stuff like that. I still am covered in shattered glass. I never sleep on buses anyway. Have not been to bed yet. Everything hurts right now. In my vast experience in auto accidents tells me it’s gonna hurt worse tomorrow and the day after too. So let’s see how I do with some sleep. We are all very grateful to be alive, I really need a nap right now.”
Popper. Lead singer of New Jersey band.