Clinch Mountain Boys accident: recuperation update

We had a number of posts last month about a serious auto accident on June 22 involving two members of Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys.

Ralph’s grandson Nathan Stanley, who plays mandolin and sings with the band, fiddler Dewey Brown, and his wife Leslie, were returning to the Browns’ home in North Carolina after a show at the Bean Blossom Festival when they were struck by a drunk driver, sending their vehicle into a ditch.

Nathan broke both his legs, and Leslie suffered a broken leg and serious bruising, causing great concern as she was six weeks pregnant at the time. Fortunately, it appears that they are all expected to recover fully, but their recuperations will be long ones.

James Alan Shelton, guitarist and road manager with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, sent along this update on how everyone is doing.

Nathan and Leslie are recuperating at home and both seem to be doing OK. It is just going to take a lot of time for them to heal.

I think Leslie is walking a little bit but Nathan can only put his full weight on one of his broken legs. He is not able to walk and is using a wheelchair to get around. He is exercising his legs quite a bit and seems to be doing remarkably well. Nathan actually performed while sitting in his wheelchair last Thursday night at our show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, but it will be awhile before he is able to go back full time.

Dewey wasn’t as seriously injured as the other two so he is doing just fine. I saw pictures of the car and they are all very lucky to be alive. Everyone appreciates the cards, letters and prayers they have received and the concern that has been shown by the bluegrass community since the accident.

Cards and letters can be sent to the following addresses: