Death Metal Drummer Killed By Drunk Driver In Horror NYE Crash

A rising metal drummer is among four people killed in a horrific drunk-driving incident in Greenville, South Carolina on New Years Eve.

37-year-old Joshua Nassaru Ward, who drummed for North Carolina death metal band Voraath, died after his car was struck in the process of backing out of a driveway around 9pm.

Joshua Ward – Voraath – ‘Judas, Blood and Vultures’ – Drum Playthrough

According to local paper Greenville News, four people including Ward, his fiancée Zelena, and two others were all pronounced dead at the scene, after a drunk driver with a suspended license allegedly ploughed into the Subaru SUV they were travelling in and sent it careening into a tree.

The driver, 31-year-old Nicholas Shane Meeks, has been charged with four counts of felony DUI involving death and denied bail after a deadly crash.

Ward, who was also a beloved member of the North Carolina martial arts community, leaves behind a son named Kai.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise money for Ward’s funeral costs, with any remaining money to be donated to Kai, with more than USD $23K raised so far.

Meanwhile, Ward’s Voraath released their debut full-length album, Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters, in June of 2024. The band posted on Facebook just hours before the fatal crash to reflect on the success of the release, writing “We’ve placed in the top 40 on multiple platforms. A few top tens and even a top one. We’re really excited to bring our next album to life!”

You can watch a drum playthrough from Ward up above, and a news report on the fatal crash down below.

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