RICHLAND COUNTY, SC. (THECOUNT) — Kirk, the longtime tour bus driver for folk-rock duo Indigo Girls, was killed Friday morning, October 9, when the motor coach he was driving collided with a disabled tractor-trailer on Interstate 20 in Richland County, South Carolina. No band members or crew were aboard the bus at the time of the fatal crash.
The collision occurred around 6 a.m. local time on I-20, according to WLTX. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and additional details about the circumstances surrounding the collision had not been released in the reports available.
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The band confirmed the driver’s death in a statement, remembering Kirk as an important part of life on the road during years of touring.
The Indigo Girls family is devastated by the sudden loss of our beloved bus driver, Kirk, in a fatal collision early this morning. No other band or crew members were onboard at the time.
Kirk was an integral part of our life on the road. He shepherded us safely across thousands of miles, through every season and all kinds of weather. He was a joyful constant in our lives, and we will miss him dearly.
Out of respect for Kirk’s memory and in light of the grief and logistical challenges we are currently facing, we have decided to cancel tomorrow night’s performance in Myrtle Beach, SC. Decisions regarding our upcoming shows in Wilmington, NC; Ponte Vedra, FL; and Sugar Land, TX will be announced in the coming days. We do not make these decisions lightly and we understand the inconvenience this may cause. The tour will resume as soon as we are ready and able.
For now, we ask that you take a moment to say a prayer or send your love to Kirk, who helped bring Indigo Girls music to you every night on tour.
The fatal crash forced the group to cancel its scheduled Saturday night performance at the Carolina Opry Theater in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The band said it was also evaluating upcoming performances in Wilmington, North Carolina; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; and Sugar Land, Texas, with decisions expected to be announced in the coming days.
“The tour will resume as soon as we are ready and able,” the band said. “For now, we ask that you take a moment to say a prayer or send your love to Kirk, who helped bring Indigo Girls’ music to you every night on tour.”
The group’s upcoming schedule included a concert at the Wilson Center in Wilmington on Sunday, October 11, followed by a performance at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Florida on Tuesday, October 13, and Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, Texas, on Thursday, October 15. The band said updates regarding those dates would follow.
The Indigo Girls, made up of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, have toured together for decades and are known for songs including “Closer to Fine” and “Galileo.” Their touring operation depends on drivers and crew members who transport equipment and keep the production moving between cities.
Richland County is in central South Carolina and includes Columbia, the state capital. Interstate 20 is a major east-west highway crossing the Columbia area and connecting the Midlands with other parts of South Carolina and neighboring states.
Google Maps: Interstate 20, Richland County, South Carolina
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