On New Year's Eve, a drunk driver crashed into a car containing Joshua "Nassaru" Ward and three others, killing them.
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According to numerous outlets and law enforcement agencies, Joshua Nassaru Ward, 37, of metal band Voraath died in a car accident.
Also in the car were Audrey Maris Ross, 29, Jade Evelyn Burton, 27, and Amanda Lynn Leroux, 30. Amanda Leroux was Nassaru's fiance. They were going to marry this year. According to Lambgoat, the other passengers were friends.
Per WYFF, a local CNBC affiliate, the DUI strike happened around 9 pm on December 31 in Greenville, South Carolina. Nassaru was in a Subaru SUV that was backing out of a private drive. A BMW Sudan with a drunk driver, however, came barrelling down the road.
Nicholas Shane Meeks was the drunk driver, and he smashed into Nassaru's SUV.
According to South Carolina Highway Patrol, per Independent, the SUV was forced off the road, where it struck a tree. The impact caused a "massive explosion," prompting locals to rush to help. Unfortunately, the passengers were already dead.
A coroner's report, per American Songwriter, stated that "Burton and Leroux died of multiple blunt force injuries while Ross died of blunt force trauma to the chest. Ward's cause of death was listed as smoke inhalation and thermal burns."
Drunk Driver Arrested And Charged Four Times
Greenville County police arrested Meeks, where he faced four counts of felony DUI involving death. He was also driving with a suspended license, something authorities also charged him for.
For driving without a license, he was given a $653 bond. What will happen next with Meeks is currently unknown and unreported, however.
Sick Drummer Magazine posted a statement to Facebook. "Woke up to hear the horrible news about the passing of our dear friend," they wrote. "Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends, and bandmates. Josh was killed by a drunk driver in an accident last night. A great drummer and a really good person."
Nassaru has left a son behind, and his fiance has left two.
His family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral and memorial expenses. It has raised $24,000 at the time of writing.
