Two of the six members of a local band who were badly injured when their tour bus was T-boned on the Grapevine are back in San Diego.
A City Serene guitarist Mike Sherman and singer Xander Bourgeouis have been released from the hospital and are back in San Diego recovering. The other four members of the band, however, remain hospitalized.
The screamo/post-hardcore/rock band based in San Diego was headed north on Interstate 5 on Sunday at about 3:30 p.m in their school bus- type vehicle when the crash occurred, according to the California Highway Patrol. The owner of the bus said the band was going to a show they had booked in San Jose at the time of the accident.
According to a CHP spokesman, a Ford pickup headed south became airborne and flew over the center divider. The truck clipped a Honda Civic, then went broadside into the band's bus. Another Honda behind the bus then struck the undercarriage after the bus tipped over.
"Someone yelled 'Oh my God!' and we looked and we saw this truck flying right at us," said Bourgeouis.
The impact ejected several people from the bus. ""I was laying on the ground, outside -- like in the dirt or something," Bourgeouis said.
Officials said seven people in all were hurt in the crash. The six musicians were taken by air ambulances to hospitals in Mission Hills, Bakersfield and Valencia.
Local
The other band members listed on A City Serene's Web site include singer Carly Baker, guitarist Kris Renfro, bassist/vocalist Marc Koch and drummer Mike Buxbaum.
A family member of one of the victims said on Wednesday that two of the musicians were clinging to life and were in comas. The other band members suffered serious injuries ranging from severe concussions to broken bones.
Sherman and Bourgeouis say they were close before but after living through this, the band is like a family now.
"When I saw the news footage of it and the bus, I was shocked that we all made it out," said Sherman.
Bruised and battered, they're on a long road to recovery. Sherman said he looks forward to getting back to writing and creating music. Although he admits the subject of future songs may change a bit.
According to the band, a benefit concert is going to be held on Oct. 3. Details are still being worked out.
