Montgomery, AL — Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone, 63, died in a vehicle crash early Saturday morning near Montgomery, Alabama.
Around 4 a.m., the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van she was traveling in overturned on Interstate 65, subsequently being struck by a Freightliner truck driven by a 33-year-old man from Texas. The crash occurred approximately five miles south of Montgomery.
Authorities confirmed Angie Stone was pronounced dead at the scene. The van's driver and seven other passengers were transported to Baptist Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The Alabama State Troopers are investigating the incident.
Stone's longtime manager, Walter Millsap III, stated that she was returning to Atlanta from Alabama. Witnesses reported that everyone in the van survived except for Stone. The music producer expressed devastation at the loss.
“We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken,” said Stone's children, Diamond and Michael Archer, in a statement.
Stone was scheduled to perform during halftime of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's championship basketball game on Saturday. In her honor, CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber called for a moment of silence, and CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker expressed sorrow over her passing, highlighting her inspiring contributions to music.
Known for hits like “Wish I Didn't Miss You” and “No More Rain (In This Cloud),” Stone was a pivotal figure in the neo-soul movement. The former member of the hip-hop trio The Sequence made her mark as a pioneering artist and left a notable impact on the R&B landscape.
The investigation is ongoing, with no further details released regarding road closures or towing.