Tragedy jolted the metal world yesterday morning when a 15-passenger van transporting members of Moribund Records artists Wormreich veered offroad on I-85 in Georgia and crashed into a tree, killing three and hospitalizing eight. The USBM artists were on tour with Khaotika and Kult of Azazel when the driver allegedly fell asleep early Monday morning, resulting in the accident. According to a statement from Moribund, guitarist Ian Andrew McKinney and bassist Paul Truesdell were among those killed, and drummer Christopher Pezzano is currently in critical condition. Wormreich founder Christopher Earl Pyle posted the following on Facebook:

This morning I lost my brother and best friend, along with two awesome people that I was lucky to have even known for a short while. Two of my other brothers remain in critical condition. Somehow I was spared with only superficial wounds and a dislocated shoulder. This is not the end of Wormreich. It’s always been my vision, but more importantly, it is for those whom I have lost today that it MUST continue. Please send healing energy to the members of Wormreich, Khaotika, and their families.