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Former REO Speedwagon Singer Terry Luttrell Injured in Serious Car Crash 🥄
CHAMPAIGN–URBANA, Illinois (June 18, 2025) – Terry Luttrell, the original lead singer of REO Speedwagon, was hospitalized early Sunday morning after falling asleep at the wheel and crashing his car on Interstate 57, just hours after participating in the band's farewell reunion concert at the State Farm Center. The 78‑year‑old rock veteran nodded off after signing autographs into the early hours—reportedly until around 2 a.m.—and later drove towards St. Louis for a business engagement.
The single-car rollover, captured in traffic footage reviewed by state troopers, deployed the airbags and effectively saved his life. Luttrell sustained a cracked sternum, minor neck and back pain, but miraculously escaped without life-threatening injuries. He was able to exit the overturned vehicle and was rushed to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, where he remains under observation.
Later describing the incident to The News‑Gazette, Luttrell shared, “I nodded off. I rolled the car over, and I woke up in a cocoon.” He also noted that the airbags cracked his sternum but said he's feeling “a little back pain and neck pain. It’s nothing that can’t be overcome.”
Bandmates and fans have rallied around him. Current frontman Kevin Cronin called it “a pretty big thing” and extended best wishes for a swift recovery.
Luttrell, who fronted REO Speedwagon from 1968–1972 before being succeeded by Cronin, joined the band onstage one more time at the farewell concert. The show reunited past and present members in a nostalgic tribute to the band’s roots.
As he recuperates, well-wishers hope this scare won’t overshadow the band’s plans—or the enduring legacy of its original voice.
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Rock Legend Terry Luttrell Survives Car Crash After Farewell Concert
CHAMPAIGN, IL — June 19, 2025 — Terry Luttrell, the original lead singer of classic rock band REO Speedwagon, is recovering in the hospital after a serious car crash early Sunday morning. The 78-year-old singer reportedly fell asleep at the wheel just hours after performing with the band during their farewell concert at the State Farm Center.
According to state police, Luttrell was driving alone on Interstate 57 around dawn when his vehicle drifted off the road and rolled over. Despite the severity of the crash, he managed to exit the wreckage and was transported to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Doctors confirmed he suffered a cracked sternum and minor neck and back injuries, but his condition is stable.
“It was like waking up in a cocoon,” Luttrell told The News-Gazette. “The airbags saved my life. I’m sore, but I’m lucky.”
Luttrell had remained at the venue until early morning, signing autographs and talking with fans after the emotional concert. He was en route to St. Louis when fatigue overtook him behind the wheel.
REO Speedwagon bandmates, including longtime frontman Kevin Cronin, expressed relief at Luttrell’s survival. “We’re just grateful he’s okay,” Cronin said in a statement. “Terry is family.”
Fans have taken to social media using the hashtag #SpeedyRecoveryTerry, celebrating the singer’s resilience and his place in rock history.
Luttrell fronted REO Speedwagon from 1968 to 1972 and briefly reunited with the band for their final show—a fitting, if dramatic, sendoff.