Jeff
Porcaro: Age 38
Toto
(b. 1 April 1954, d. 5 August
1992)
“A lot of rumors surrounded Jeff Porcaro's
sudden death which ranged from mysterious poisoning
to drug overdose: “Jeff died from inhaling
poisonous fumes from a dangerous insecticide,”
David Paich explains. “He was setting out a barbecue in his
garden. Jeff thought that he could handle the poison
without expert advice and, moreover, without protective
clothing or a mask. Shortly beforehand he had taken
a hot shower and this contributed to his death.”
Michael Einhorn has this to add:
Jeff Porcaro, drummer for the rock band Toto, died of hardening of the
arteries caused by cocaine use--not from an allergic reaction to a
pesticide as originally reported, the Los Angeles County coroner's office
said Thursday,
The 38-year-old rock star fell ill after spraying insecticide in the yard
of his Hidden Hills home Aug. 5, and died that evening at Humana
Hospital-West Hills.
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Merle
Watson: Age 36
Doc Watson's Band
(b. 8 Feb 1949, North Carolina , d. 23
October 1985).
Son of Doc Watson, Merle died tragically
as a result of a tractor accident on his farm in Lenoir, NC.
Here's what happened:
On the night of October 22, 1985, Merle was restless and unable to
sleep. Some time after midnight, he went to the basement, tied on his nail
apron, and proceeded to trim some red beech paneling that had been
misgrooved, making it ready to panel his basement walls. The saw blade hit
an undetected fault in the grain and a large piece of hardwood splintered
off, embedding itself in the muscle of Merle's upper arm. He grabbed his
all-weather jacket, fumbled around in the pocket for the key to his farm
tractor, and left to seek help. Spotting a lighted house at the summit of
a steep hill, he continued in that direction, praying he would not black
out before he got there.With
the aid of the couple whose home he had come to, Merle successfully
removed the huge splinter. His wound bandaged, but weak from the trauma
and loss of blood, Merle left to return home. Tragically, on the way back
down the steep incline of the couple's drive, the tractor brakes locked,
leading it over a high embankment. Merle Watson was thrown off the large
tractor which then landed on him, killing him instantly. The life of one
of acoustic music's brightest and most beloved musicians was at a
premature end. Eddy Merle Watson's earthly life may indeed be over, but
his many fans are convinced that he is now a member in good standing of
the highly acclaimed Band of Acoustically Inclined Angels and periodically
peers down with great pride on his beautiful memorial garden. |
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Actors who died in farming/gardening related
accidents:
Raymond
E. Watson Jr: Age 50
(born 1948, died 27 Jan 1999)
TRENTON, Texas (AP) -- Actor Raymond E.
''Woody'' Watson Jr.,
who appeared in dozens of films and
television movies and was the voice of Texas Lottery commercials, died Wednesday
[Jan. 27, 1999] in a tractor accident. Investigators said Watson
died after he was run over by a rear wheel of his tractor.
The accident happened on his farm, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas. Watson
appeared in about 20 films, including ``Evening Star,'' ``Powder,'' ``A Perfect World'' and ``Backroads.''
He also appeared in more than two dozen television series and movies,
including ``Walker, Texas Ranger,'' ``Texas,'' and ``Dallas.''
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