One person was killed and eastbound lanes of Interstate 26 were shut for hours after a multi‑vehicle crash in South Carolina that involved rock band Buckcherry's tour bus, the group has confirmed. All band members and their touring crew escaped without injury.
The accident happened at about 2am on Friday, 21 August, in Spartanburg County as the band was travelling between tour dates. Buckcherry said the victim was not a member of the group or its crew.
Buckcherry Confirms Band and Crew Are Unharmed
The band addressed the incident in a statement shared on social media, saying it was 'extremely grateful' that every member of Buckcherry and its touring crew was safe and unharmed. The group also acknowledged the fatality and offered its condolences to the victim's family.
'Tragically, authorities have confirmed that the collision that occurred ahead of our bus resulted in a fatality,' the band said. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones of the person who lost their life.'
The identity of the person killed has not been publicly released. A representative for Buckcherry later clarified that the crash occurred before the tour bus reached the scene. The band also confirmed that its driver remained unharmed.
How The I-26 Crash Unfolded
According to reports citing the South Carolina Highway Patrol and transportation officials, the fatal incident involved a person who had exited a vehicle on the interstate following an earlier collision.
The person was subsequently struck by a Toyota sedan and died at the scene.
The resulting sequence of collisions involved several vehicles, with Buckcherry's tour bus becoming caught up in the wider incident.
The exact circumstances surrounding the initial crash remain unclear.
The collision occurred near mile marker 31 on I‑26, and authorities closed all eastbound lanes for several hours while emergency crews dealt with the aftermath. Reports indicated that the lanes reopened later that morning.
Tour Carries on After Deadly Crash
Buckcherry said there would be no immediate changes to its touring schedule. The band's planned performance at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, 22 August, was expected to go ahead as planned, and reports confirmed that the show proceeded.
The group is currently travelling as part of its Roar Like Thunder Tour, named after its 2025 studio album of the same name. The tour includes dates across Florida, Texas and other US states, with additional performances scheduled alongside the Scorpions later in the year.
The crash happened after Buckcherry had performed at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, before continuing south towards its next scheduled appearance.
Current Line-Up and Touring Plans
Buckcherry currently features lead vocalist Josh Todd, guitarists Stevie Dacanay and Billy Rowe, bassist Kelly LeMieux and drummer Francis Ruiz.
Todd remains the band's best-known original member, with Buckcherry having first formed in Anaheim, California, in 1995. The group became widely recognised during the 2000s following hits including 'Crazy Bitch', 'For The Movies', and 'Sorry'.
The band's latest album, Roar Like Thunder, was released in June 2025 and forms the centrepiece of the current touring cycle. While details surrounding the I‑26 crash remain under investigation, Buckcherry's message has been one of relief for its own travelling party and sympathy for the person whose life was lost.
The group thanked fans and others who had contacted them with messages of concern and support following the overnight accident.
