UPDATED: 'Early Graves' vocalist killed in Central Point crash; other band members injured

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. -- A van carrying nine members of two California-based "death metal" bands lost control and crashed on Interstate 5 in Central Point when the driver fell asleep, killing one band's vocalist and injuring two others just after 5:30 AM Monday. 

Oregon State Police say the van, pulling a trailer, was carrying members of two death metal bands to California when it crashed in the southbound lane between the Central Point and Blackwell Road exits. OSP reported the band had just played an outdoor concert in Eugene on Sunday.

Survivors of the crash told KTVL that the van was transporting the two bands Early Graves, of San Francisco, and The Funeral Pyre, of La Habra, Calif., a Los Angeles suburb. The Funeral Pyre's MySpace page described their music as "melodic black/death metal."

OSP reports that the van's driver, Justin H. Garcia, 24, Fresno, Calif., reportedly fell asleep and lost control of the van. Early Graves vocalist Makh (Matikeef) P. Daniels, 28, from Pacifica, Calif., was ejected from a rear cargo area where he and two others were resting. Daniels was pronounced dead at the scene by responding medics.

Garcia, a guitarist for The Funeral Pyre, and passenger Tyler S. Jensen, 21, from Livermore, Calif., (guitarist for Early Graves) were transported by ambulance to Rogue Valley Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Jensen was in the cargo area with Daniels and a third uninjured passenger identified as John S. Strachan, 26, from Long Beach, Calif., a member of The Funeral Pyre.

The other van occupants were identified as Matthew J. O'Brien, 28, from San Francisco (Early Graves); Daniel P. Sheddon, 27, from San Francisco (Early Graves); Christopher M. Brock, 23, from San Ramon, Calif. (Early Graves); Adam T. Campbell, 27, from Brae, Calif., (Funeral Pyre); Alex Hernandez, 27, city unavailable (Funeral Pyre).

VIDEO: Bands' van crashes near Central Point

RELATED: View The MySpace page for the band The Funeral Pyre

RELATED: The Funeral Pyre website

RELATED: View the MySpace page for Early Graves

According to the bands' tour schedule, they had performed either in Eugene or Salem Sunday night and were to play a show at Ryan's Saloon in Reno, Nev. Monday night and would be in San Francisco Tuesday. The tour was scheduled to end Aug. 8 in Echo Park, Calif.

OSP says a 2003 Chevrolet extended van pulling a utility trailer was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 34. The van contained nine adult males returning to California from Eugene where they played at a weekend outdoor concert.

The van's driver reportedly fell asleep and he lost control. The van and trailer traveled off the right shoulder, rolled and came to rest off the freeway in a grassy area.None of the nine occupants were  using safety restraints and the adult male victim was ejected from a rear cargo area where he and two others were. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by responding emergency medical services personnel.

The driver and one passenger were transported by ambulance to Rogue Valley Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

OSP troopers were assisted at the scene by Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Central Point Police Department, Jackson County Fire District 3, and ODOT. One lane remained open during the scene response and investigation.