Entertainment
Legendary Rocker In Critical Condition After Car Crash
A legendary 80s era rocker is in critical condition after a car crash that nearly took his life, but he revealed that it was one simple, and often forgotten, feature of the vehicle that saved him.
Terry Luttrell, an alum of REO Speedwagon, feels “blessed” to have survived a rollover crash this past weekend, according to friends and former bandmates who say they are stunned to see him still among the living after hearing what happened.
Drummer Michael Mesey said that Luttrell, 78, fell asleep at the wheel while driving late at night along Interstate 57, approximately 30 miles south of Champaign, IL. He had just finished performing as part of the band’s farewell tour.
“I spoke to Terry this morning and he is going to be doing physical therapy for a couple weeks and is looking forward to getting back to performing all the REO Classics,” Mesey told the Daily Mail.
“He is very blessed to have walked away from this accident, mainly a blessing from God and the airbags in his BMW. Terry is in great spirits and thankful for all of the love and prayers from everyone around the country.”
Speaking from his hospital bed, the rock singer credited his car’s airbags for deploying at just the right moment.
“The airbag went off and cracked my sternum a little bit,” Luttrell told The News-Gazette on Tuesday. “I have a little back pain and neck pain. It’s nothing that can’t be overcome.”
The band was performing during its “Legacy of REO Speedwagon” nationwide tour and had just wrapped its final performance at the State Farm Center in its hometown.
Luttrell said he stayed at the stadium until past 2 a.m., dutifully signing photographs and taking pictures with fans who had stood before his stage for decades.
When he arrived at his hotel, Luttrell said he was stunned to see another 40 fans eagerly awaiting autographs, telling the NY Post he didn’t get to sleep until 4:30 a.m.
Neither did he stay asleep for long. Just a few hours later, Luttrell was packed and back in the car, driving to St. Louis for a business trip, when the accident occurred.
“It just happened,” Luttrell told the newspaper. “I nodded off. I rolled the car over, and I woke up and I was in a cocoon [the airbags]. Unfortunately, it totaled the car.”
Thankfully, he was “able to get up and get out of the car.”
Luttrell claimed he’ll be staying at the area hospital for several more days to ensure his condition doesn’t worsen.
Meanwhile, former bandmates and fellow musicians sent their get-well wishes to Luttrell via social media.
“I just heard about Terry Luttrell’s car accident … I wish him the best on a speedy recovery,” said longtime REO frontman Kevin Cronin, who filled in after Luttrell left the band in 1972.
REO Speedwagon formed in 1967, and Luttrell became a familiar voice on American radio with the debut of the band’s eponymous first album in 1971. One year later, he left the group to join Starcastle.
It was Cronin who led vocals for the band as it churned out some of its greatest hits, including “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You.”
Last year, REO had declared a hiatus, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
