Josh Turner Breaks Silence After Tragic Bus Crash: ‘Please Keep Praying’
Josh Turner is speaking out for the first time following a deadly tour bus crash that killed a member of…
Josh Turner; Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Outback Concerts
Josh Turner is speaking out for the first time following a deadly tour bus crash that killed a member of his crew and injured several others.
The country star and gospel singer paid tribute to the late David Turner, his longtime sound engineer, in an emotional social media post on Tuesday (Sept. 24).
“As I try to write this I don’t know what to say,” the singer/songwriter began. “It’s a struggle to put into words the devastation and grief that our road family is trying to process. We lost a beloved member of our team, David Turner. He was like a brother to so many in this industry and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Please continue to keep David’s family in your prayers.”
Turner went on to explain that his entire crew suffered “significant” injuries and admitted that many of them have a long road to recovery. He asked that fans give them their privacy as they continue to rest and recover from the tragic accident.
Closing his note with a link to a GoFundMe account that has been set up to assist members of his crew, the North Carolina also thanked fans for their support in the time since the crash.
“Your prayers have been felt. Please keep praying,” he wrote.
The crash that killed David Turner and injured other members of Turner’s crew took place September 18 on Highway 46 in San Luis Obispo County, California. The California Highway Patrol reported that the tour bus drifted off the highway, drove along a dirt shoulder, hit a barbed wire fence and eventually fell off a 50-foot cliff. Investigators say two people were ejected from the vehicle when the bus hit a dry riverbed at the bottom of the cliff. Josh Turner was not on the bus at the time.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.