Yesterday night, we reported on the unfortunate news about Toronto’s heavy metal band Cauldron getting into a car crash during their tour with Enforcer, Warbringer and Exmortus. Gladly, no one was seriously injured and guitarist Ian Chains is expected to have a full recovery once he gets out of the hospital.

Sadly, Dayton, OH hard rock band CounterFlux did not have the same outcome and three of the band’s five  members were victims of a car crash involving a drunk driver in this past weekend.

The at-fault driver was identified as James Pohlabeln, a 61-year-old retiree who had been released from jail 33 hrs before the incident in connection with a separate suspected drunken driving crash. The other identified victims and members of CounterFlux were Kyle Canter, 23, of New Carlisle; Earl Miller II, 27, of New Carlisle; and Devin Bachmann, 26, of Huber Heights and passanger Vashti Nicole Brown, 29, of Dayton.

According to a witness, Pohlabeln was driving northbound and encountered the sedan driving southbound in the wrong lanes living a death toll of 5, including himself.

Bassist of the band, Aleks Clayborn, posted the following message on their Facebook page:

I’m sure most of you have heard by now, but for those of you who haven’t, we lost Earl, Kyle, and Devin early this morning. There’s nothing worse than losing friends, family or otherwise. These guys became like brothers to Matt and myself. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, no parent should ever have to go through this, ever.

These guys loved you, the fans, the friends, the family. And to honor them Matt and I have decided to finish the Album we started together. It will be a last Hoorah and one of the best things we can think of to honor our lost brothers.

Please when you’re out at the bar, whether your playing a show, checking out a show or what have you, take a designated driver if you plan to drink, or call a cab. Your actions and choices affect more than just you and though a totaled car can be replaced a life cannot.

With love,
Aleks.