A fatal crash involving equipment headed for J. Cole’s Sacramento concert shut down part of Interstate 5 Thursday morning and left the truck’s driver dead. The big rig overturned near Woodland while transporting gear from the rapper’s previous tour stop in Seattle to Golden 1 Center, where Cole is scheduled to perform Thursday night.
According to CBS Sacramento, the crash happened shortly after 6 a.m. on southbound I-5 near County Road 95 in Yolo County. California Highway Patrol officials said the truck drifted onto the shoulder before the driver apparently attempted to steer back onto the freeway and lost control. The vehicle overturned and blocked both southbound lanes.
Emergency crews extricated the driver, and a medical helicopter was initially requested. CHP later confirmed that the driver, who was the only person inside the truck, died from their injuries. Their identity has not been publicly released. Furthermore, investigators have not determined the cause of the driver's departure from the roadway. CHP Sgt. David Barker told CBS that authorities are considering several possibilities, including distraction or the driver falling asleep, but stressed that the cause remains unknown.
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J. Cole Won't Miss His Sacramento Show
A representative for J. Cole confirmed that the truck was carrying equipment for Thursday’s stop on The Fall-Off Tour. Cole performed in Seattle on Tuesday before the tour headed south to Sacramento. The current run supports The Fall-Off, his seventh studio album, and marks his first solo headlining tour in five years.
Despite the loss of equipment involved in the crash, Cole’s representative told CBS that Thursday night’s Golden 1 Center concert is expected to proceed as scheduled. The venue continued to list the show for 8 p.m. as of Thursday afternoon. However, CBS Sacramento later reported that the show had been canceled. CHP continues to investigate the crash.
