🕊️J. COLE CANCELS SACRAMENTO CONCERT AFTER TOUR CREW MEMBER IS KILLED IN TRAGIC TRUCK CRASH

What was supposed to be another stop on J. Cole’s The Fall-Off World Tour turned into tragedy Thursday morning.

Jarlath Parkinson, 66, of Jackson, South Carolina, was killed while driving a semi-truck carrying equipment for J. Cole’s tour from the previous show in Seattle to Sacramento, California.

The crash happened shortly after 6 a.m. on Interstate 5 in Yolo County, northwest of Sacramento. According to the California Highway Patrol, the truck drifted onto the right shoulder. When Parkinson attempted to bring the truck back onto the roadway, he lost control and the big rig overturned. He was the only person inside the truck, and no other vehicles were involved.

Authorities are still investigating exactly what caused the crash. CHP said distraction or fatigue are among the possibilities being considered, but no official cause has been determined. 

Parkinson was part of the crew responsible for moving the equipment that makes a massive concert tour possible from one city to the next.

And sometimes we forget about those people.

We see the artist.

We see the stage.

We see the lights, screens, speakers and production.

But behind every major tour are hundreds of people doing the work most fans will never see, including the drivers moving that entire production hundreds of miles while everybody else is sleeping.

Parkinson was doing exactly that when his life was tragically cut short.

J. Cole had been scheduled to perform Thursday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, but following Parkinson’s death, the concert was canceled. The venue said its thoughts were with the crew member’s family and loved ones during what it called an incredibly difficult time.

There are concerts that can be rescheduled.

Tickets can be refunded.

Equipment can be replaced.

A life cannot.

Fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster are receiving automatic refunds, while other ticket holders can seek refunds through their original point of purchase. It remains unclear whether the Sacramento concert will eventually be rescheduled.

For J. Cole, the touring crew and especially Parkinson’s family, what happened Thursday is much bigger than a canceled concert.

A father, relative, friend, coworker and member of a touring family didn't make it home.

730 BOOM Radio sends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Jarlath Parkinson, as well as J. Cole and every member of the touring crew grieving this loss.

Rest in peace, Jarlath Parkinson. 🕊️

Sometimes the people behind the stage deserve to have their names said too.

JARLATH PARKINSON. 66 YEARS OLD. 🕊️💔

730 BOOM RADIO

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