A new police report has found that ex-Mastodon member Brent Hinds was at fault for the motorcycle crash that took his life last month.
The guitarist and co-vocalist, who departed the US heavy metal band earlier this year, died in a road accident on Wednesday August 20. He was 51 years old.
An initial police report filed by the Atlanta Police Department on August 28 blamed a female driver of a BMW SUV for the collision. The document said she had “failed to yield while turning left and collided into the male victim who was operating the Harley Davidson”.
At the time, the report stated that this “information is preliminary in nature and can change as the investigation progresses and new information comes to light”, and the “investigation remained active”.
However, a second report from the Atlanta Police Department – published yesterday (September 4) concluded that Hinds was at fault for the fatal accident.
“After conducting time distance calculations of the Motorcycle and assessing the changes in velocity of the BMW it was deemed that Hinds was travelling between 63 and 68 mph,” it reads (via Consequence).
“Video of the intersection was used for the calculations. The video clearly depicts the crash. Hinds was at fault for the crash.”
Per Atlanta News First, the speed of between 63 and 68 mph is approximately twice the speed limit at the site of the crash.
The new report also notes that the female driver “was positive the light was green” when she made the left turn. Additionally, two witnesses told police that Hinds was “driving fast”.
One witness, however, said the light was red “when he looked to the light when everything happened”.
The document states that Hinds was “breathing and moving” when police arrived at the scene, but had sustained “visible injuries” to his head, arms and torso. He later died in hospital.
The SUV driver was hospitalised with injuries to her arms and head.
Meanwhile, Hinds’ obituary has confirmed that while funeral details have yet to be announced, a “celebration of life will be held in Atlanta at a later date”. The memorial noted: “In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alabama School of Fine Arts.”
Sharing the news of his death, Mastodon wrote: “We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Other tributes have come from the likes of Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, Garbage‘s Shirley Manson and Tool. Mastodon subsequently paid their respects on stage, telling the audience that they had “lost somebody very special to us”.
Elsewhere, Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher said Hinds was like “a brother” to him, and hailed the late musician as a “guitar wizard extraordinaire”.
Meanwhile, skater, reality TV personality and ex-Jackass star Bam Margera has revealed that he was working with Hinds on new music shortly before the guitarist’s tragic accident.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.