Families, fans and friends are in mourning for fallen musicians of the heavy metal bands Wormreich and Khaotika. The deadly crash occurred around 7 in the morning of Monday, April 6 2015, in northeast Georgia, 65 miles outside of Atlanta.
The vehicle was headed southbound on I-85 in Jackson County near Maysville Road. According to an article published by Loudwire, Georgia state patrol Ccp. Scott Smith said there were two bands traveling in the 15-passenger van and the driver, identified as Khaotika guitarist Sergio J. Quesada was allegedly falling asleep at the wheel of the vehicle.
According to the patrol officer, the van veered off the road into a tree, striking the passenger side, and ejecting three of the passengers out of the vehicle. The officer stated the driver was the only one unharmed while there were three fatalities. The eight injured were escorted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Athens Regional Hospital. There were three critically injured out of the eight passengers.
The bands Wormreich and Khaotika were making their gig rounds and both just came from performing in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Sunday, as they were in route to Atlanta for their next show. According to the state patrol and Atlanta Journal Constitution, those who passed away from the tragic accident included: Nicholas Crisostomo, 25, drummer of Khaotika from Round Hill, Va.; Ian A. McKinney, 30, guitarist of Wormreich from Madison, Tenn.; and Paul J. Truesdell, 29, guitarist of Wormreich from Mableton. The survivors from the crash included: Matthew A. Shaner, 31, of Silver Springs, Md.; Jasmine Zarinebaf, 19, of Naperville, Ill.; Kamilla Hayes, 44, of Norcross; Patricia Shoemaker, 49, of Jonesboro; Christopher Pezzano, 45, of Toney, Ala.; Christopher E. Pyle, 27, of Owensboro, Ky.; James C. Berile, 25, of Leesburg, Va.; and Stephen K. Shoemaker, 53, of Jonesboro.
The Atlanta-based heavy metal band, Khaotika, was formed in 2014 and had released an EP within the same year entitled, Bloodline Empire. Wormreich is considered to be a nationally formed band with members from Huntsville, Alabama, Nashville, Tennessee and Owensboro, Kentucky. The black metal band was formed in 2009 and in 2011 released their full-length album, Edictvm DCLXVI. Many musician friends have taken to Twitter and Facebook to post their condolences and regrets, which included another band on tour called Kult ov Azazel, an American black metal band based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the heavy metal bands were headed to a Monday night performance at the popular venue known for putting on concerts for underground talent, The Basement. The Basement issued out a cancellation for the show on their website and a statement acknowledging the tragic accident along with their sincere condolences to the bands’ loved ones.
Wormreich recently posted this statement to their fans on Facebook:
We will not stop, we will not fold, we will not yield, and we will not bow, for we are eternal and our resolve is invincible. Through all the pain and tragedy, we find our strength and determination to carry on and summon the black flame again and again. Even death will not break us. We are Wormreich, and so we shall remain! – Vulk
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