Willie Nelson Band Bus Involved in Bad Injury Accident

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This story has been updated (see below).

One of Willie Nelson’s band buses—not Willie’s famed Honeysuckle Rose—was involved in a bad accident late last night (11-22) in Texas on Interstate 30 in icy, Winter conditions. The accident occurred at roughly 3:30 AM Central time near Sulphur Springs. Multiple injuries have been reported, with multiple band members and/or crew injured, including Willie Nelson’s long-time drummer Paul English who reportedly broke his ankle. Willie Nelson has canceled all immediate upcoming shows for the moment, but his New Years Eve show at the Moody Theater in Austin is still on.

A strong, Winter cold front gripped the lower Midwestern plains and north Texas on Thursday and Friday, causing treacherous driving conditions throughout the region. Nelson was scheduled to play Horseshoe Tunica tonight in Robinsonville, Mississippi, along with other shows in the South through the end of November before heading out to Nevada and California in December.

Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE (11-23-13 12:06 PM CST): Other injuries from the accident include drummer Paul English’s brother, multi-instrumentalist Billy English, and Nelson’s guitar tech Tom Hawkins. None of the injuries are considered serious, and they have all been released from the hospital, or will be shortly according to Nelson’s publicist Elaine Schock. Paul English broke his ankle, not his foot as earlier reported. The tour has postponed their remaining November tour dates, but plan to resume the tour on December 10th in Las Vegas.

UPDATE (11-23-13 1:14 PM CST): The accident occurred when the bus struck a bridge pillar during rainy and windy conditions. Though it was cold, snow and ice are not thought to be involved, just slick pavement and high winds. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Sylvia Jennings there were seven people on board the bus, including the driver. Billy English’s injury is described as a bruised hip, and guitar tech Tom Hawkins injury is thought to be broken or bruised ribs.

Below picture is from radio station KOKE FM in Austin, TX

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UPDATE (11-27-13): Listen to the 911 phone call for the bus crash below.

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