The long-time drummer of veteran Oakland R&B ensemble Tower Of Power, David Garibaldi, and substitute bassist Marc Van Wageningen are recovering in hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a train before a show at city venue Yoshi's.
As Billboard reports, public relations spokesman Jeremy Westby confirmed the news in a statement yesterday (AEST), in which he described the incident, which happened on Thursday night US time, as "an unfortunate accident" and advised both men were "responsive and being treated" at a local hospital.
The band's representatives have since provided further updates on the condition of Garibaldi and Van Wageningen, who are "both hospitalised in serious condition" but "thankfully are expected to recover". Citing "unverified reports", representatives explained that there appears to have been a freight train "that had just passed and a group of pedestrians were starting to cross the street but another train was coming from the other direction that they did not see".
A statement from bandleader Emilio Castillo explained that, attending the hospital, he "saw David but Marc was in intensive care and I wasn't able to see him".
"Dave's head and face were pretty swollen and bruised but he was lucid and expected to recover," Castillo said in a statement. "Marc came through surgery well; his internal bleeding was stopped and they were waiting for him to stabilize in order to do further testing.
"The doctors were cautiously optimistic. We appreciate the responses and prayers from our former bandmates, friends, and fans and we all remain hopeful and in prayer."
Garibaldi joined Tower Of Power in 1970, two years after its formation. The band has seen a wealth of characters fill out its ranks, and has played with some of the most notable pop, soul and R&B musicians of the 20th century over the course of their nearly 50-year career.
They achieved their best chart result in 1973, hitting #17 in the US with So Very Hard To Go, but have more than 15 studio albums to their name plus another seven live albums, six compilations and a several singles.
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