Terry Luttrell of REO SpeedWagon Injured in Car Accident
Terry Luttrell, the 78-year-old singer of REO SpeedWagon, was involved in a car accident early Sunday morning, as confirmed by reports following a reunion concert in Champaign, Illinois. He mentioned in a call from his hospital room that he had dozed off while driving and ended up with a cracked sternum due to the airbag’s impact after crashing on Interstate 57.
“I was able to get up and get out of the car,” Luttrell shared, expressing optimism about his recovery. He noted that he might remain in the hospital for several days for rehabilitation. “The airbag deployed, and I have a cracked sternum. There’s some back and neck pain, but it’s nothing I can’t handle,” he added.
Tour Plans on Hold
Luttrell explained that after the concert, he had stayed at the afterparty until around 2 a.m. The next day, heading to St. Louis, he didn’t get much sleep. “It didn’t seem like it would be a problem,” he reflected. “I felt a bit sleepy, but it just happened. I nodded off, rolled the car, and woke up with the airbag around me. Unfortunately, the car was totaled.” Interestingly, some of his nurses tending to him had actually attended the concert.
Despite the accident, Luttrell expressed satisfaction about having performed at what he described as a farewell concert. “It was a great show,” he said, reminiscing about the excitement of the night. “You really don’t know what it’ll be like, but everyone had a blast. It was exactly what we expected—a one-off concert that won’t happen again.” Yet, there’s a sense of bittersweetness, especially as the band announced plans to suspend tours due to “incompatible differences.”
Luttrell, originally from Champaign and a member of the band since its formation at the University of Illinois in 1967, left in 1972, making a brief return for Saturday night shows later.
Reflecting on the concert’s impact, he remarked, “It felt significant to be part of it.” His charm and candidness continue to resonate, even as he navigates the recovery from his recent accident.
