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ELO Cellist Mike Edwards Killed in Hay Bale Crash

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Mike Edwards, a founding member of Electric Light Orchestra, has died in a freak accident involving a bale of hay.

The cellist was killed on the A381 in Devon on Friday, Sept. 3, in an incident in which a bale of hay hit the van he was driving, reports the BBC.

Police are investigating if the runaway bale of hay – weighing at 600kg – rolled off a tractor from a farm close to the road. Edwards' van swerved and hit another vehicle but the other driver escaped the incident uninjured.

Police said they used YouTube clips and photos of Edwards to identify the 62-year-old but they are still trying to find his family to help formally identify the body.

They are appealing for help in tracking down family members, but it is also believed Edwards may have been involved with cello tutoring in the Devon area.

Devon and Cornwall Police Traffic Unit member Sgt Steve Walker said: "This was a tragic accident and we have now identified the victim as Michael Edwards, a founder member of ELO. We have used photographs and YouTube footage to identify him but we now need help contacting his family for formal identification. We don't believe he was ever married and we have identified an ex-girlfriend but she is currently abroad."

Edwards played with British rock group Electric Light Orchestra from 1972 until 1975, when he was replaced by Melvyn Gale.

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Amelia

The rude comments are extremely uncalled for. Some people have large and close-knit families, others don't... My parents are deceased, all my sibs live far from me, aunts uncles and cousins are not in touch and haven't been for years before my folks died. The fact that he was giving cello lessons suggests that perhaps he was not the "poor rich man" to whom you so callously referred. There is a time and place for everything and this is neither. The incredible music he made will live on. He was an amazing talent and he will be sorely missed.

September 09 2010 at 7:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rodrigo

ELO is my favorite band of all times. I collected all their albums and memorabilia, and always wished to see them in live concert. Unfortunately, it never happened. When I was living in El Salvador they were touring in USA. ELO music inspired me to write short fictions, poems, even a novel. Then, I came to live in USA. How ironic, ELO went to my country land and I missed their concert in San Salvador. Their music transported me to another time, and another world. Even today, can feel their music inside my veins and with flashbacks lived again my teenagers years just to hear them saying:
"Just on the border of your waking mind, there lies another time, where darkness and light are one. And as you tread the halls of sanity. You feel so glad to be unable to go beyond. I have a message from another time."
God bless ELO. May Edwards' soul rest in peace for eternity.

September 07 2010 at 7:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mary johnson

How terrible! God rest his soul!

September 07 2010 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
shirley rodick cobb

Yes I remember! i am a mother, my dtr listened to this elo all the time. Quite a harmless group, great music.
Oh how I remember those days of her teen yrs & the great sounds! Posters & all in her room. She had the entire collection. I will e-Mail this right now on to her.

September 07 2010 at 1:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kate P

I was born in England and did really like ELO, they were very talented, very sad to see him pass away like that, BUT, point here....... Do you know where you stand in the light of eternity? When God appoints your time of death, it's final! Where do you stand with God? Where are you going when you meet him for judgement?

September 07 2010 at 1:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rodrigo

ELO was a band where music was played with art. Not like today's group or singles that plays the same rithm, the same bang, bang, bang and stupids lyrics.
Mike Edwards as a member of ELO was a real artist and genius. God forbid him and welcome him in his choir of angels with strings.

September 07 2010 at 1:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marilyn

You know there is an old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything." I find it hard to believe that some people can be so cruel. My condolences to his family.

September 07 2010 at 12:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jorge

Never heard of him or elo. must not have been very good.

September 07 2010 at 12:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jorge's comment
don

Jorge, ELO is great. Innovative. You must be very young. Check it out. In many ways, they picked up where the Beatles left off.

September 07 2010 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
music lover

Loved ELO from day one, still some of my favorite driving music, songs that made you sit up and really listen, gorgeous arrangements. He and his music will be missed.

September 07 2010 at 12:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
carol

I have been a fan of ELO to this day and this news saddens me. My prayers for his family and friends.

September 07 2010 at 12:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply