The Ghost Inside: three members in critical condition
More information has now come to light regarding The Ghost Inside's fatal bus crash yesterday morning near El Paso, Texas. Killed in the head-on collision along U.S. 62/180 were the driver of the band's bus, Gregory Hoke, 31, and the driver of semi, Steven Cunningham, 64.
Meanwhile, The Ghost Inside vocalist Jonathan Vigil, drummer Andrew Tkaczyk, and guitarist Zach Johnson are said to be in critical condition. Additionally, band bassist Jim Riley and touring guitarist Chris Davis were injured as well, though less seriously, and are in stable condition.
A report from KFOX14 addresses all of the bus occupants' conditions as follows:
The Ghost Inside band members, Andrew Tkaczykt, 28, Jonathan Vigil and Zach Johnson, 28, received serious injuries and were transported to University Medical Center via helicopter. They are said to be in critical condition, officials said.
Nathan Wilden, 31, of Topeka,; Armando Cardona, 32, of Phoenix,; Charles Anthony Billings, 27, of Maryland,; Danny Lupio, 29, of Garden Grove, Calif.,; Timothy Irons, 27, of California,; Christopher Davis, 25, of Maryland,; and James Riley, 34, of Nevada, were traveling with the band. Their injuries are said to be serious, officials said.
Lupio and Billings are said to be in critical condition, while the other victims are in stable condition, officials said.
A Gofundme campaign has been launched to benefit The Ghost Inside, their crew, and the deceased driver of their tour bus (notably, Bring Me The Horizon has contributed $10,000).
This is a terrible situation, and our thoughts are with The Ghost Inside, the two drivers, the band's crew, and the families of all of those involved.
UPDATE: Bass player James Riley, who suffered a broken ankle in the crash, has now issued a statement in which he says that all of the hospitalized members of The Ghost Inside are in stable condition. Initial news reports listed their condition as critical, so either they've been upgraded, or said reports were erroneous. Here is what Riley provided:
"I've seen news reporting that some of the guys are in critical condition so I'd like to clarify a little bit. Tim and I were at the hospital last night and spoke extensively with each of the guys nurses. They are all in very stable condition and their families are arriving today to be with them. They still very much need your love and support."
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