Ken Casey the Dropkick Murphys have responded quickly to fund-raising efforts for the family of the man killed in this past weekend’s tour bus accident in Texas.
The Boston punk band has donated $25,000 to the GoFundMe page for 23-year-old Dalton Lane Clark, of Cedar Park, Texas, who leaves behind a wife and a 19-month-old son, Aiden.
Clark was killed when he was fatally struck around 3 a.m. Sunday morning on Interstate 35 north of Austin. The band was en route from a show in San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, where Al Barr was flying back to Boston to attend the funeral of a close friend. After the accident, which left the tour bus driver extremely shaken, the Dropkicks cancelled their show last night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Not long after the GoFundMe page was created this afternoon, Casey donated enough money to instantly reach the campaign’s target goal amount.
“Our thoughts and prayers our with you,” Casey wrote on the page. “God bless you all in your time of need. We are so sorry our paths have crossed in this tragic manor. Ken Casey Dropkick Murphys”
When GoFundMe could not accept a donation in the amount of $25,000, he split his giving into two separate payments: one for $15,000 and the other for $10,000.
“I’m sorry go fund me wouldn’t accept the whole donation at once,” he added. “Once again on behalf of the band we are sorry for your loss and grieve with you !!!”
Meanwhile, the family of the victim has disputed that the death was caused by suicide. According to the Boston Globe, Clark’s family says he was on his way home when he was struck simply trying to cross the highway.
“Dalton was loved & he loved back wholeheartedly and had a zest for life & family,” read their statement, via the Globe. “In our loss, our sympathies goes out to The Dropkick Murphys Band Members & Bus Driver involved. We would like to thank them for recognizing that a loss of life did happen, that our family is grieving, and we commend the way the band & driver handled this loss.”
Here is the Clark family, via the GoFundMe page…
