Two of the eight band members injured in Monday morning's wreck in northeast Georgia have been released from the hospital. As of Tuesday evening, two more remained in critical condition.
The van was carrying a total of 12 people — all members or affiliates of heavy metal bands Khaotika and Wormreich — when it veered off I-85 in Jackson County at about 7 a.m. Monday. Three were killed and, except for the driver, all other passengers were injured.
A spokeswoman for Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where three of the injured passengers were taken following the wreck, said Christopher E. Pyle, 27, of Owensboro, Ky., was treated and released late Monday.
Stephen K. Shoemaker, 53, of Jonesboro, remained at that hospital in critical condition Tuesday, while James C. Berile, 25, of Leesburg, Va., was in satisfactory condition.
Late Tuesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for Athens Region Medical Center also released updates on the conditions of the five passengers taken to that hospital. Christopher Pezzano, 45, of Toney, Ala., was in critical condition, the spokeswoman said, but three others were listed in fair condition: Jasmine Zarinebaf, 19, of Naperville, Ill.; Kamilla Hayes, 44, of Norcross; Patricia Shoemaker, 49, of Jonesboro.
Matthew A. Shaner, 31, of Silver Springs, Md., had been treated and released.
Authorities believe the driver, identified as 27-year-old Khaotika member and Athens resident Sergio Quesada, fell asleep at the wheel before the vehicle left the roadway and plowed into a tree.
Quesada was not injured, but three of the musicians — Nicholas Crisostomo, 25, of Round Hill, Va.; Ian A. McKinney, 30, of Madison, Tenn.; and Paul J. Truesdell, 29, of Mableton — were pronounced dead at the scene, which was about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Khaotika is based out of Atlanta and Wormreich is based out of Hunstville, Ala.
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