British indie duo Her’s killed in wrong-way car crash in Arizona

PHOENIX — The two members of the British indie band Her’s were killed in a fiery wrong-way car accident in western Arizona this week.

Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said 24-year-old Stephen Fitzpatrick and 25-year-old Audun Laading were two of the four victims in the Interstate 10 crash.

Heist or Hit said in a Facebook post on Thursday that the crash occurred while the band was traveling to a show in Santa Ana, California, on a North America tour.

“Everyone here at the label is overwhelmed and distraught,” the statement read. “We have lost our friends and the world has been denied their talent.”

 

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We’re officially on US soil, and your American air is tasting delicious, crisp with a hint of freedom. We’ll soon be truckin into Texas to participate in the @sxsw festivities. Come see us all five times or just the once, depending on how eager you are 🤟🇺🇸🤟 📷 @sebastiensejourne x

A post shared by Her’s (@thatbandofhers) on Mar 6, 2019 at 8:22am PST

The accident occurred early Wednesday near Centennial in La Paz County, about 80 miles west of Phoenix.

Graves said a Nissan pickup truck collided head-on with a 15-passenger Ford van on the westbound portion of the highway. Both vehicles were engulfed in flames.

Fitzpatrick, Laading and the driver of the van, 37-year-old Trevor Engelbrektson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were pronounced dead on the scene.

Engelbrektson was the band’s tour manager, according to the record label.

The driver of the truck, 63-year-old Francisco Edward Rebollar of Murrieta, California, was also dead at the scene.

Graves said there was no evidence on the roadway to indicate that either car attempted to brake before the crash. Authorities found an alcoholic beverage container in the debris field.

The group had performed Tuesday at The Rebel Lounge in Phoenix.

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