Close call for Doyle and the boys

Paramedics extract the members of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver when they are stuck after the bus blew a tire (August 29, 2016)We all love getting to see our favorite bluegrass artists close to home, but we can sometimes forget how much traveling they have to do to get close to us. Not only is all that road time tedious and unfulfilling, it exposes them to hazards and difficulties that most of us wouldn’t endure for any price.

Thankfully Americans can depend on good road conditions almost everywhere we go, and the number of bluegrass artists who suffer tragedy on the highway is quite small.

But this story from yesterday and the tour bus of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver reminds us just how vulnerable they can be. Dobro man Josh Swift offers the blow-by-blow account.

Front passenger side tire on Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's bus, much the worse for wear“We were going down I-81 southbound and heard a funny sound. We thought it was the road at first. Doyle was driving and said that something didn’t feel right. He started slowing down to get off the road, and immediately the front passenger side tire blew.

The bus started veering right, and I yelled for everyone to hang on. We went off the side of the road, down a steep embankment, and plowed into the opposite side of that embankment. In an attempt to miss a tree, Doyle pulled the steering wheel to the left. At that moment, the bus started to go on its side. I can’t explain what happened next, but we felt a jolt and the bus was upright.

Doyle got the bus stopped about 25 feet short of a huge road sign that could have potentially done major bodily harm to those of us aboard. Just so happened, an ambulance saw the whole thing. By the time we stood up and were all checking on each other, two paramedics walked up beside the bus to check on us. It was unbelievable.

Josh Swift is extricated from the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver tour bus after a blown tire sent it carrying over an embankment.Then, we were stuck. The door wouldn’t open. So, an age long question was answered… Could Josh fit out the window. The answer is Yes. God truly took care of us today. We give him all the glory.

On a personal note, Doyle Lawson made quick decisions behind the wheel that led to the safety of all of us. We will forever be grateful for a leader like that…”

All the guys are doing fine, but the contents of the bus were scattered around the cabin. Everyone made it home safely, though the bus will be in the shop for a bit. They were actually trying to get home in time for a birthday party that has now been rescheduled for tonight.

Doyle wants to thank Jamie Dailey who offered to let him use their bus for the next two weeks while his is undergoing repairs. So if you see the Dailey & Vincent bus rolling down the highway this next few weeks, it’s actually Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver inside!

Share this:

About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.