Mastodon’s Brent Hinds blamed by police for deadly motorcycle accident

Police in Atlanta have determined that late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds was responsible for the car accident that caused his death last month.

According to an updated police report released Thursday, Sept. 4, investigators said Hinds was “traveling between 63 and 68” miles per hour when his motorcycle struck an SUV in the middle of an intersection. Officers noted that the posted speed limit at that location was 35 mph.

The first accident report suggested the SUV driver may not have adequately yielded while making a left turn. Questions also remain about the traffic light at the time of the crash: the SUV driver said the light was green, but a witness claimed it was red. Both witnesses, however, mentioned that Hinds was speeding when the crash happened, which led police to rule he was “at fault for the crash ultimately.”

The accident took place at around 11:35 p.m. on Aug. 20. When officers reached the scene, one reported finding Hinds “breathing and moving with visible injuries to his head, arms, and torso.” He was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his wounds.

Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor. Together they released eight albums over two decades and earned a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2018 with their song “Sultan’s Curse.” Earlier this year, in March, Mastodon revealed they were parting ways with Hinds, who later claimed he had been forced out of the group.

Following his death, Mastodon honored the guitarist during a performance at the Alaska State Fair. “We loved him so, so, so very much,” Dailor said from the stage. “And we had the ups and downs of a 25-year relationship. It’s not always perfect, it’s not always amazing, but we were brothers to the end.”