Dave Matthews Band sax player hurt in ATV wreck

By Brian McNeill
Media General News Service
Published: July 2, 2008

LeRoi Moore, saxophonist of the Dave Matthews Band, was seriously injured in an all-terrain-vehicle accident on his farm outside Charlottesville on Monday, the band said in a statement.

Moore, 46, was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition for most of the day Tuesday.

“Please join us all in wishing LeRoi a speedy and complete recovery,” the band said in the statement posted on its Web site.

By Tuesday evening, Moore’s condition had been upgraded from serious to fair.

Jeff Coffin, saxophonist of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, was asked to sit in with the Dave Matthews Band during its Tuesday night show at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, N.C. Coffin will continue substituting for Moore during the band’s summer tour while Moore recovers.

After DMB fans caught word of Moore’s accident, several get-well-soon groups sprang up on Web sites such as facebook.com.

One fan wrote, “Dude … be better soon. You have a lot of people out here that are praying fore you! xo.”

Another fan chimed in on a different site: “I just heard about your accident! My thoughts and prayers go out to you! I hope that you make a quick and swift recovery. Everyone is here for you.”

On a popular Dave Matthews Band online message board, antsmarching.org, hundreds of fans posted messages of sympathy. “This is sad news,” one wrote. “I hope everything turns out okay. It must be hard for the rest of the band having to continue onward...”

Dozens of fans sent e-cards to Moore through a free service offered by UVa hospital. Volunteers print out the e-cards and deliver them to the patient’s room.

Moore is a founding member of the Charlottesville-based quintet. In forming his band in 1991, Dave Matthews recruited Moore and drummer Carter Beauford, both accomplished jazz musicians at the time, along with bassist Stefan Lessard, violinist Boyd Tinsley and keyboardist Peter Griesar. Griesar left the band in its early years.

Moore was injured while on a two-day break from the band’s tour. The band last performed Saturday night at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow.

Few details were available Tuesday about Moore’s ATV accident. Albemarle County police, fire and rescue squads all said that they do not have any information about the accident.

The band has not released details of Moore’s injuries. The band has also not said if he is likely to rejoin this year’s tour.

ATV accidents have sharply increased across the country as the powerful vehicles have grown more popular in recent years.

Under a state law passed in 2006, Virginians are required to wear a helmet while riding on an ATV. State law does not require any rider training or licensing, said Jean Patton, a spokeswoman with Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

According to statistics compiled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 8,104 fatal ATV accidents from 1982 to 2006. In Virginia, there were 153 fatalities during that same time period.

“There are just more of them out there. They’re fun,” said Dr. Julie Haizlip, a UVa physician who has researched ATV accidents. “Unfortunately, many people don’t realize just how dangerous they can be.”

Racing models of ATVs have powerful engines and can reach speeds of up to 90 mph. More common models can reach 65 mph. The vehicles have a high center of gravity, Haizlip said, and are “prone to rolling over.”

Haizlip, who works in the critical care division of UVa’s Children’s Hospital, is not treating Moore and was not commenting on his specific case.

ATV accidents often occur when the rider is carrying a passenger on the back of the vehicle, she said. Also common in accidents, Haizlip said, is when children attempt to ride adult-sized ATVs.