Willie Nelson Tour Bus Accident Leaves Three Hospitalized
By Billy Dukes November 23, 2013 12:04 PM
Three people were hospitalized after Willie Nelson‘s band’s tour bus slammed into a bridge pillar on I-30 in Sulphur Springs, Texas early Saturday morning (Nov. 23). The singer was not on board, but the incident has resulted in the indefinite postponement of his tour.
KXAN-TV in Austin, Texas reports that longtime Nelson drummer Robert Paul English sustained a broken hip, while bandmates Billy Jean English and Thomas Ray Hawkins sustained minor injuries. Members of the band and the bus driver were on board at the time of the 3:30AM accident.
Nelson shared the news with fans at his Facebook page: ”Willie Nelson’s band bus (not Willie’s bus) was in an accident overnight on icy I-30. 3 members of the family were hospitalized. Additional information will be released as we get it.”
The Associated Press reports that seven people were on board, adding that the three injured men were taken to a hospital in Sulphur Springs. The state’s Department of Puplic Safety confirms there were wet roads and high winds at the time of the crash. Radio station KOKE-FM in Austin has a photo of the bus after the accident. The image shows significant damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle, with the roof peeled back in places.
Nelson had 14 dates scheduled for 2013, before a month-long break in January. The singer has promised to provide updates about the condition of the three injured men and future shows on his Facebook page.
