Terry Luttrell, the original lead vocalist of REO Speedwagon, was involved in a serious car accident early Sunday morning, June 15, 2025, shortly after performing at the band’s farewell reunion concert in Champaign, Illinois. The 78-year-old singer fell asleep at the wheel while driving on Interstate 57, heading to St. Louis for business, which led to his car rolling over and being totaled.
According to multiple reports, including statements from Luttrell himself to The News-Gazette, the crash occurred just hours after the high-profile concert at the State Farm Center. The event marked a special one-off reunion show titled "Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon: A Concert Event – Back Where it All Began," held in the band’s hometown where it was originally formed over five decades ago.
Luttrell had stayed late into the night following the concert, signing autographs and meeting fans until nearly 4:30 a.m. “It was just sign-sign-sign,” he recalled. “People were really friendly. You’ve got to [do it].” Despite the exhaustion and only a few hours of sleep, he set out on the road but soon nodded off behind the wheel.
"I nodded off. I rolled the car over, and I woke up, and I was in a cocoon," Luttrell described, referring to the airbags that deployed on impact. The airbags saved him from more serious injury but cracked his sternum in the process. He also suffered some back and neck pain, though he remains optimistic about his recovery. “It’s nothing that can’t be overcome,” he said from his hospital room at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, where he is expected to remain for a few days undergoing rehabilitation.
Fortunately, Luttrell was able to get out of the wrecked vehicle on his own. The crash totaled his car, but he expressed relief that the injuries were not worse. Some of the nurses caring for him at the hospital were fans who had attended the concert the night before, adding a personal touch to his recovery experience.
The reunion concert was a rare and emotional gathering of REO Speedwagon members, including Luttrell himself, keyboardist Neal Doughty, drummer Alan Gratzer, guitarist Steve Scorfina, bassist Bruce Hall, and singer Mike Murphy. Luttrell performed four early songs with the REO Classics band during the show, stepping back into his role as the band’s frontman for the first time since his departure in 1972.
The event was especially poignant because it punctuated REO Speedwagon’s decision to cease touring after 2024 due to “irreconcilable differences” among band members. Kevin Cronin, the longtime lead singer who replaced Luttrell in 1972 and led the band through its biggest hits, was notably absent from the reunion. Cronin explained that he was unable to attend due to prior commitments with his own Kevin Cronin Band in Oregon.
“To say that you were there was a pretty big thing,” Luttrell said about the concert, emphasizing its unique and final nature. “It was exactly what we thought it was going to be. It was a one-off concert that will never happen again.”
Luttrell’s history with REO Speedwagon dates back to 1968, shortly after the band’s formation at the University of Illinois. He was the lead vocalist on their self-titled debut album released in 1971. After leaving the band in 1972 due to personal conflicts with guitarist Gary Richrath, Luttrell went on to become the lead singer for the progressive rock band Starcastle.
Kevin Cronin, who took over as lead vocalist after Luttrell’s departure and helped the band achieve commercial success with hits like “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” expressed his well-wishes for Luttrell’s recovery. “I just heard about Terry Lutrell’s car accident ... I wish him the best on a speedy recovery,” Cronin told Fox News Digital.
The band’s decision to stop touring was publicly announced in September 2024, citing internal conflicts primarily between bassist Bruce Hall and Cronin. While Cronin was the only member willing to continue touring, he was outvoted by Hall and keyboardist Neal Doughty, leading to the dissolution of the band’s touring activities.
Despite the accident, Luttrell remains upbeat and grateful for the opportunity to perform one last time with his former bandmates. “It was a good show all the way around,” he said, reflecting on the concert’s atmosphere and significance.
The story of Terry Luttrell’s accident underscores the risks of fatigue behind the wheel, especially following late-night events. His candidness about the incident and positive attitude toward recovery offer a hopeful outlook amid a challenging situation.
As Luttrell recuperates, fans and fellow musicians alike are sending their support, celebrating both his legacy with REO Speedwagon and his resilience. The farewell concert remains a memorable milestone in the band’s storied history, and Luttrell’s survival and recovery add a poignant chapter to that legacy.
