Exene Cervenka opens up about ‘horror’ car crash outside gig

U.S. punk icon Exene Cervenka has offered her sympathies to the families of the music fans killed outside her band X’s gig in Austin, Texas on Wednesday night (12Mar14). A man and a woman lost their lives when a car with a suspected drunk driver behind the wheel ploughed into a crowd outside The Mohawk Club just after X’s House of Vans South by Southwest festival performance.
More than 20 other revellers were left injured, five critically.
Cervenka took to Twitter.com in the early hours of Thursday (13Mar14) to comment on the “horror” on Austin’s Red River Street.
She wrote, “I am so sorry that there was a horrible accident tonight in Austin. At gig. Don’t know details. Heard cops chased car? Maybe not, came out of gig horror, never know what is true anymore.”
And a statement from The Black Angels, who were also on The Mohawk Club bill, reads: “Our hearts go out to all those involved in the tragedy that happened on Red River tonight. Sigh… so sorry.”
Rapper Tyler, The Creator’s headline slot was scrapped following the tragedy. He also took to the social media site and wrote, “Something Sad Happened. I’m Bummed.”
Rocker Slash, who is also promoting new music and projects at SXSW, has also taken to Twitter.com to add his thoughts, writing, “Tragic incident at SXSW last night. Such a senseless act. My heart goes out to the victims & their families & friends.”
Mohawk Club officials are planning to get back to business on Thursday, hosting festival spots from Cloud Nothings, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, F**ked Up and A$AP Mob.
A statement about the tragedy from organisers of the South By Southwest festival was released on Thursday morning. It reads: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the tragic accident that took place last night here in Austin. We appreciate and commend the first responders as well as the city agencies who so quickly sprung into action.
“We will be making schedule and venue changes for programming in the surrounding area of last night’s events. All other programming will continue as previously scheduled.”
Austin’s Chief of Police, Art Acevedo, has confirmed the accident happened just after midnight when a motorist tried to avoid a drink driving checkpoint and ended up driving the wrong way down a one-way street before accelerating along Red River Street, losing control of his vehicle. The suspect crashed into a parked van and then attempted to flee on foot.