Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Dixie Chicks, has died at the age of 65.
Lynch’s cousin, Mick Lynch, told TMZ that the musician passed away Friday outside of El Paso, TX just after sunset. She was driving to nearby Dell City and was involved in a collision on the highway.
The Texas Dept. of Public Safety has confirmed Lynch’s death and Law enforcement says their preliminary investigation shows that Laura was heading east on Highway 62, and that another car heading west attempted to pass another vehicle in front of it on a two-way undivided portion of the highway.
As that car tried going around, it ended up hitting Laura’s vehicle head-on. Laura was declared dead at the scene.
Laura Lynch co-founded the famous music group, now known just as The Chicks, with Robin Lynn Macy, Martie Erwin and Emily Erwin in 1989. She was the group’s upright bassist and eventually took on the role of lead vocalist for the band, TMZ reported.
Lynch left the group in 1995. She married Mac Tull and had a daughter, both of whom she’s survived by.
The Chicks has issued a statement on her passing, writing, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West.”
“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this sad time.”
