Band members and crew were unhurt after the early-morning multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 26 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — One person was killed early Friday after getting out of a vehicle involved in a crash on Interstate 26 in Spartanburg County, where a subsequent multi-vehicle collision also involved a tour bus carrying rock band Buckcherry, authorities and the band said.
The crash happened on I-26 East near mile marker 31 early Aug. 21. The South Carolina Highway Patrol said a driver involved in an earlier crash got out of the vehicle and was standing on the interstate when a Toyota sedan struck the person. Buckcherry later confirmed that its tour bus was involved in the larger multi-vehicle incident. Available reports do not say that the band’s bus struck the person who died.
Buckcherry said the accident occurred at about 2 a.m. and that all members of the band and its touring crew were safe and unhurt. The group said the collision that caused the death happened ahead of its bus. The band offered condolences to the victim’s family and thanked people who contacted the group after news of the crash began spreading.
The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, according to local reporting. The victim had not been publicly identified in the latest reliable reports reviewed Sunday. Authorities also had not released a complete account of each vehicle involved, the number of vehicles in the later collision or whether any drivers could face charges. The South Carolina Highway Patrol continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
The crash caused a lengthy closure of the interstate’s eastbound lanes. The South Carolina Department of Transportation reported all lanes blocked near mile marker 31, in the Roebuck area near Dorman High School. Motorists were redirected while troopers and other emergency personnel worked at the scene. The roadway later reopened after the investigation and response cleared the travel lanes.
Buckcherry was traveling between stops on its Roar Like Thunder Tour when the accident occurred. The band had been scheduled in Asheville, North Carolina, on Aug. 20 before continuing south through the region. Its next announced performance was at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Aug. 22. The band said after the crash that the Fort Lauderdale performance was expected to proceed as planned.
The touring lineup includes vocalist Josh Todd, guitarists Stevie D. and Billy Rowe, bassist Kelly LeMieux and drummer Francis Ruiz. The group is touring in support of its 11th studio album, “Roar Like Thunder,” which was released in 2025. Buckcherry’s official website continued to promote the album and upcoming tour dates after the accident.
Reports about the crash drew attention to the band because its tour bus was among the vehicles involved, but the available information makes an important distinction about the fatal sequence. Troopers said the person who died had left a vehicle following an earlier crash and was then struck by a Toyota sedan. Buckcherry similarly said the fatal collision occurred ahead of its bus. Authorities have not publicly attributed the death to the band, its members or its touring crew.
The exact events that led to the initial crash and the subsequent multi-vehicle collision remain under investigation. As of Sunday, authorities had not publicly released the victim’s identity or announced charges connected to the fatal incident. Buckcherry reported no injuries among its members or touring crew and continued to list additional tour dates.
Author note: Last updated August 23, 2026.