Terry Luttrell, Rock Band Front Singer Injured In Accident

Terry Luttrell, 78, the former lead singer of the 1980s rock band REO Speedwagon, was injured in a serious car crash on the weekend. Read on to find out what happened.

How Did The Crash Happen?

According to The Sun, Luttrell “fell asleep at the wheel following an afterparty.” His car flipped and was “totaled” when he nodded off on Interstate 57 while driving from Champaign to St. Louis.
The outlet cited Luttrell as telling The News‑Gazette, “It just happened. I nodded off.”

He said, “I rolled the car over, and I woke up, and I was in a cocoon.” Of course, that was from the airbags deploying. Despite the crash, he managed to “get up and get out of the car” with a cracked sternum, minor back and neck pain.

Taken To A Hospital

He was taken to “Carle Foundation Hospital” in Urbana, Illinois, where he remains under observation. Doctors reported that his injuries are manageable, and Luttrell reassured fans, saying, “It’s nothing that can’t be overcome.”

The way the accident happened seemed to stem from him simply being tired. It happened after Luttrell performed at a concert, but then stayed on for an after-party. It involved late‑night autograph sessions and celebrations.

He told The News‑Gazette he was up late signing autographs until around 2 a.m. Feeling “a little bit sleepy,” he decided to drive on to St. Louis for a next‑day engagement.

Who Is Terry?

Luttrell joined REO Speedwagon in 1968 and left in 1972. He later performed with the progressive rock band Starcastle. REO Speedwagon became famous after his departure, with Kevin Cronin performing songs like “Keep On Loving You.”

Recent headlines reported that other musicians were also involved in auto accidents. Michael Sumler, a choreographer and backing singer from Kool & the Gang, passed away in an accident in May. Also known as  “Chicago Mike,”  the accident only involved his car. Unfortunately, unlike Terry Luttrell, he passed away at the scene.

More Musicians In Auto Accidents

Another musician took the life of an elderly woman who was crossing the road. Country music artist Conner Smith was involved in a fatal car crash in Nashville earlier this month. The incident tragically claimed the life of a woman named Dorothy Dobbins. Smith was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when the accident occurred. 

Fans slammed Conner for not paying attention. Some folks noted that he’d previously posted a reel that showed him singing away and driving with only one hand on the wheel. The potentially fatal accident involving Terry Luttrell could have also ended in a tragic death. You know the saying, “Drive to stay alive.” Well, the lesson here is that driving when tired or inattentive can kill.

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