REO Speedwagon Vocalist Terry Luttrell Survives Near Fatal Car Crash
via Julio Poleo / Youtube
Terry Luttrell, the original lead singer of REO Speedwagon, was involved in a frightening car accident just hours after a heartfelt reunion show in Champaign, Illinois—the same town where the band got its start. Luttrell said he nodded off behind the wheel on Interstate 57 late Sunday night.
Luttrell told The News-Gazette:
“It just happened.
“I nodded off. I rolled the car over, and I woke up and I was in a cocoon [of airbags]. Unfortunately, it totaled the car.”
Despite the terrifying crash, Luttrell walked away with only a cracked sternum, plus some minor back and neck pain. He was treated for a few days at a local hospital and says he’s on the mend. He added:
“I was able to get up and get out of the car.
“It’s nothing that can’t be overcome.”
REO Legends Come Together
The accident followed a major moment for Luttrell and fellow REO alumni during Saturday’s reunion event called “Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon: A Concert Event – Back Where it All Began.” Luttrell joined original keyboardist Neal Doughty, drummer Alan Gratzer, early guitarist Steve Scorfina, longtime bassist Bruce Hall, and former frontman Mike Murphy on stage.
“This event was created to provide the founding fathers, original singers and classic REO lineup a chance to reunite and say a proper goodbye,” Hall explained earlier. He also described the concert as a way to honor the memory of late REO members Gary Richrath and Gregg Philbin.
While the band’s longtime frontman Kevin Cronin was away performing with Styx in Oregon, the night was still packed with nostalgia and emotion.
Sleepless, Then Shaken
Luttrell said the hectic post-show schedule likely led to his accident. After the concert, he signed autographs at the after-party and again at his hotel, where he was greeted by about 40 more fans.
“It was just sign-sign-sign,” Luttrell said, estimating he didn’t get to sleep until 4:30 a.m. He hit the road again just a few hours later at 7 a.m., exhausted.
Despite the crash, Luttrell is staying positive—and fans are grateful he’s okay.
