Earlier today in Caddo Parrish, Louisiana , a pickup truck crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the tour bus carrying the band of country music singer Trace Adkins. Both men in the truck were killed upon impact. None of Adkins' band received serious injuries, however, five were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries and observation.Adkins, who was not on the bus, had already arrived at the venue when he heard the news. He went to the scene in a van where he picked up the uninjured band members, then went to the hospital to check on the others.
"This is a real tragedy," says Adkins. "Two people have been killed and I don't even know their names. So out of respect for their families, I prefer not to comment too much at this time."
Adkins, who is a native of Sarepta , Louisiana is still planning to perform a scaled-down acoustic set at tonight's show with Martina McBride at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. He will not perform at tomorrow night's concert (2/14) in Pensacola, Florida , however Martina McBride and Sarah Buxton will go on as scheduled.
MY NAME IS BILL ETCHIESON. I AM THE UNCLE OF THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS DRIVING THE PICKUP TRUCK THAT HIT THE TOUR BUS. I HAVE A NEW RESPECT FOR MR. ADKINS, FOR SAYING THE KIND WORDS THAT HE DID ABOUT THE TWO MEN IN THAT LOST THEIR LIVES, AND MENTIONING THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO MEN. JUSTIN WAS A GREAT YOUNG MAN THAT WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR EVERYBODY THAT HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH. HE HAS TOLD ME STORIES ABOUT TOTAL STRANGERS THAT HE HAS HELPED AND SOME OF THEM WERE SOMETHING THAT ONLY A MAN LIKE JUSTIN WOULD HAVE DONE. HE TOLD ME ONCE ABOUT DOING A PLUMBING JOB FOR AN ELDERLY LADY AND WHILE BEING THERE THE OLDER LADY ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD HELP HER FOR A SECOND AND OFCOURESE JUSTIN SAID YEA. WHEN HE WENT IN THERE THE LADY NEEDED HELP STANDING WHILE SHE CHANGED HER DEPEND. JUSTIN WAS LAUGHIN WHILE TELLIN ME THIS STORY, AND I DONT REALLY MEAN FOR IT TO BE FUNNY, BUT HOW MANY PLUMBERS WOULD HAVE REALLY STOOD THERE AND HELD THE WOMAN UP AND BE A GENTLEMAN ABOUT IT LIKE THAT BOY. THAT WAS JUST HOW BIG HIS HEART WAS. HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK. HE WOULD DROP ANYTHING HE WAS DOING TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE. HE WORKED HIS TAIL OFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE DIDNT HAVE. I LOVED THAT BOY LIKE A SON. HE HAS TOLD ME MANY TIMES THAT I WAS THE ONLY DAD THAT HE HAS EVER HAD. HE WAS SUCH A MAMAS BOY THAT IT WASNT FUNNY. HE LOVED HIS FAMILY UNCONDITONALLY AND HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. MR ADKINS I AM SORRY FOR THE INJURED BAND MEMBERS, AND THE DAMAGE TO YOUR BUS. IF JUSTIN KNEW THAT YOU HAD TO CANCELL YOUR CONCERT THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE BOTHERED HIM SO MUCH. HIS PASSENGER, WAS HIS BOSS AND ALSO HIS BEST FRIEND. I AM SO SORRY TO BUBBAS FAMILY FOR THE LOSS OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD MAN. MY HEART IS BROKEN WITHOUT JUSTIN, BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT HE DIED A VERY RESPECTABLE, LOVING, GOOD YOUNG MAN. I HOPE THE MEDIA DONT TRY TO RUN HIS NAME THROUGH THE RINGER, AND I WISH EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPERTUNITY TO HAVE MET THIS MAN. I LOVE YOU SON R.I.P.
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