A Texas country musician crashed an SUV into a semi-trailer in Ocala early Tuesday morning and has cancelled shows in Louisville, Ky., and Scheller, Ill. The drivers are in non-critical condition at a nearby hospital.
David Allan Coe drove a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban through a red light on West Silver Springs Boulevard at about 1:30 a.m. when his car was hit by a tractor-trailer carrying produce.
Along with Coe, Robert Johnson, the tractor-trailer's driver, and Lisa Mead, a passenger in Johnson's vehicle, "are fine, standard treatment, nothing critical," Ocala Police spokeswoman Sgt. Angy Scroble said. Mead has already been released from a local hospital.
Coe's booking agent, Bruce Smith, said Coe was heading from a casino in Tampa to a home in Ormond Beach, even though Google Maps says that would add 30 minutes to the drive. Smith said he has cancelled Coe's two upcoming shows in Louisville, Ken. and Scheller, Ill., and he's sending someone to Florida to check on Coe.
David Allan Coe had performed in Ormond Beach on Sunday as part of Bike Week, according to anevent website.
When the car and truck collided, the truck slid and hit an electrical box and a concrete pole, Scroble said. The pole tore off the roof of the truck, and husks of corn spilled onto the road.
Scroble said no one has spoken to Coe yet about the accident because "medical treatment was primary."
She said that authorities have opened a northbound lane on Pine Avenue and a westbound lane on Silver Springs Boulevard.
"It could be another three hours before we're ready to clear that intersection," she said at about 10:30 a.m. "The diesel spillage has been taken care of. Right now, it's about trying to extract that tractor trailer. The lights are not functioning because when the tractor tailer slid, it took out the powerbox for that intersection."
"We don't know how long it's going to take to get that intersection open."
Andrew Pantazi wrote this story online.