Local metal musicians involved in fatal van crash

• Khaotika
• Members of Khaotika and Wormreich pose together following Sunday's show in Spartanburg, SC.

Monday morning, a one-vehicle accident in Jackson County, Ga involving the tour van of Atlanta black metal band Khaotika and Alabama-based tour mates Wormreich left three men dead.

According to the AJ-C, Khaotika drummer Nicholas Crisostomo, 25, of Round Hill, VA; Wormreich guitarist Ian A. McKinney, 30, of Madison, TN; and Overwhelmed's Paul J. Truesdell, 29, of Mableton were pronounced dead on the scene. Eight others were taken to nearby hospitals, with three reportedly in critical condition.

According to media reports, around 7 a.m. Monday, the driver lost control of the van, which exited I-85 in Jackson County, rolled down an embankment, and struck a tree on the passenger side. Three male passengers were reportedly killed instantly after being ejected from the vehicle. The bands were traveling from a show in Spartanburg, SC to the Basement in East Atlanta, where they were scheduled to perform Monday night.

The AJ-C also reports that Athens-based guitarist and songwriter Sergio Quesada of Khaotika was reportedly the driver, and is believed by state patrol officials to have nodded off while driving.

Khaotika's roots run well beyond Georgia. The group includes Chicago-via-Poland singer, model, and painter Lariyah Daniels, former Altar of the Apocalypse guitarist Matt Shaner (Maryland), and Virginia-based drummer Crisostomo. Shaner is among those listed as injured.

Wormreich’s billing as a Huntsville, AL band is an understatement as well, as its members hail from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Stephen “Skullator” Shoemaker (guitar) is an Atlanta metal fixture who co-founded seminal local thrash band Hallow’s Eve in 1983. Shoemaker and his wife, Patricia, were both injured in the crash. Fellow Wormreich members Chris Pyle (guitar) and Chris Pezzano (bass) were also hospitalized.

Three others were reported as hospitalized, including Kamilla Hayes of Norcross; James Berile of Leesburg, VA; and Jasmine Zarinebaf of Naperville, IL.

There is no official word on the condition of the injured, Mangled's Facebook page indicated that Shoemaker underwent emergency surgery on Monday. "Everyone please send the most positive energy you can to Stephen 'Skully' Shoemaker, an Atlanta metal royalty, Mangled supporter, and great man, as he is in life-saving surgery following this morning's tragic events in North Georgia," said the band's Monday afternoon post. "Our hearts go out to Wormreich, Khaotika, and the Truesdell family. Stay safe, everyone. Never drive the van overnight without a shotgun co-pilot."

The local metal scene quickly reacted to the tragedy. Amos Rifkin (A. Rippin Production) put together a benefit featuring local metal bands at the Basement for Mon., April 13, but that event was cancelled per the families of the deceased's request. "They deserve their privacy in this extremely emotional time, so we've taken down the event page," Rifkin said Monday via the A. Rippin Production Facebook page. "They've passed along their sincerest gratitude for the outpouring of support, especially everybody's desire to help as much and as soon as possible, but we'll be postponing any sort of benefit until further notice to comply with their wishes."

A Gofundme campaign to raise funds for the families was also removed yesterday evening.

At least one fundraiser remains intact, as photographer and filmmaker Emily Harris is donating 70 percent of this weeks' sales of her Atlanta Metal documentary to those effected by the accident.

More information will be posted here as it becomes available.