2 members of Tower of Power seriously injured by train in Oakland

Two members of longtime Oakland rhythm and blues band Tower of Power were hit by a train in Oakland near Jack London Square on Thursday night minutes before a scheduled show at Yoshi’s.

Longtime drummer David Garibaldi and bassist Marc Van Wageningen were struck by an Amtrak train passing outside the popular venue shortly before their show that was scheduled for 8 p.m., said Jeremy Westby, a publicist for the group, which has been performing since the late 1960s.

Both men were taken to the hospital in critical condition after the accident, said Sgt. Aaron Smith of the Oakland Police Department. A group of four people tried to cross the tracks — while the warning guard arms were still down — toward Yoshi’s after a freight train slowly chugged by, Smith said.

But the pedestrians didn’t see the Amtrak train traveling about 25 mph from the opposite direction on another track, he said. Two were able to jump out of the way, but Garibaldi and Van Wageningen were not.

Brandon Scura of Advance Crime Scene Restoration cleans blood from railroad tracks in front of Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Brandon Scura of Advance Crime Scene Restoration cleans blood from railroad tracks in front of Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close 2 members of Tower of Power seriously injured by train in Oakland 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Both men were rushed to nearby Highland Hospital in critical condition, Smith said. Both regained consciousness at the hospital, Westby said.

Both of their scheduled shows at Yoshi’s — an annual affair — were canceled after the accident, said Hal Campos, the club’s general manager.

Though Campos said he didn’t see the train strike, he ran out when he heard the shouts and called 911. Both men got hit by the train and thrown through the air in opposite directions, he said, based on multiple witness accounts.

“The only thing that went through my mind was, ‘Is he OK? Is he going to come out of this 100 percent?’” Campos said, adding that they were unconscious when he found them.

The train that hit the men was a Capitol Corridor commuting line that runs between Sacramento and San Jose, said an Amtrak spokeswoman.

Witnesses told police that the train’s operator was sounding the horn when the accident occurred, Smith said.

Known for its hard-driving horn section, Tower of Power now has 10 members, with more than 50 past musicians among its ranks. The band’s hits include “You’re Still a Young Man” and “What is Hip?,” which was co-written by Garibaldi. He joined the band in 1970.

The group’s performance at Yoshi’s is always an anticipated annual highlight for the venue and the band’s fans, Campos said.

Though he didn’t know the two men personally, he said the band was “like family” to Yoshi’s, a place it has been playing as long as most anyone can remember. The band members were headed from a hotel nearby when the train struck, he said.

“The shows were canceled and all that, but that doesn’t matter,” Campos said. “We’ll refund our customers. But what matters here is their life.”

Michael Bodley and John King are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com, jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley, @johnkingsfchron</s>OAKLAND — Two members of the band Tower of Power were hit by a train in Jack London Square on Thursday night, according to fire officials.

Friends of the band identified the victims as bassist Marc Van Wageningen and drummer Dave Garibaldi.

The two band members suffered internal injuries, according to a KTVU-2 report, and were undergoing surgery late Thursday.

Victor Pamiroyan, a friend of the band members, said Tower of Power was scheduled to play two shows at Yoshi’s nightclub Thursday night.

“I’m really devastated by the news,” said Pamiroyan, who is the manager for musician Pete Escovedo. “I’m shook up, like all our people in our industry.”

The victims were taken to a hospital after being struck by a train near the intersection of Clay Street and Embarcadero, according to Oakland fire. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

The pedestrians were crossing the street when they were hit by the Amtrak train, said Oakland police Officer John O’Reilly. The victims were heading to the show when they were struck by the train.

A spokesperson for Amtrak could not be immediately reached for comment.

Further details were not immediately available.</s>OAKLAND (CBS SF) — Two members of famed Bay Area jazz-rock band Tower of Power were struck by an Amtrak train at Jack London Square shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday.

A manager at Yoshi’s tells KPIX 5 that the two victims were on their way to the nightclub for a performance.

They were transported to the hospital but their condition is not yet known.</s>Two members of the Bay Area R&B band Tower of Power were struck Thursday evening by a train in Oakland.

“Both men are responsive and being treated” at a hospital, said Jeremy Westby, a publicist for the band. He described the incident as “an unfortunate accident.”

The accident occurred about 7:30 p.m. at Jack London Square, near the jazz club Yoshi’s. The band was scheduled to perform at Yoshi’s on Thursday.

The concert was canceled, and Yoshi’s posted a statement to its social media accounts: “We are deeply affected by this event and share our prayers and thoughts to their families and the Bay Area music community as a whole.”

Tower of Power was founded in Oakland in 1968 as the Motowns, but the group later adopted the new name. Within the 10-person band, four have been members since the beginning, including Garibaldi.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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L.A. Sheriff's Department to begin using drones to respond to bomb threats, hostage crises</s>Two members of iconic Bay Area R&B band Tower of Power are recovering Friday morning after being struck by an Amtrak train Thursday night near Oakland's Jack London Square, according to a band spokesperson.

The incident was reported just before 8 p.m. in the area of Clay Street and Embarcadero, according to firefighters.

Witnesses said the scene was confusing because one train passed by and the crossing signals went up and lights stopped flashing. They added that the two men may have assumed it was safe to cross.

"We were maybe two feet from a train that was flying by," Hae-Sin Thomas said. "We could feel the rush of it, which is why we kind of leaned back and moved away from the train. The other two gentlemen were not so fortunate."

2 Members of Tower of Power Hit By Train, Hospitalized in Oakland Two members of iconic Bay Area band Tower of Power were struck by an Amtrak train near Oakland's Jack London Square and taken to a hospital Thursday night, according to a band spokesperson. Kim Yonenaka reports. (Published Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017)

The two men were taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland. The extent of their injuries was not known, but both men were conscious and one of them required sugery.

The band released a statement late Thursday night, naming the two injured men.

"In an unfortunate accident tonight, two members of the award-winning group Tower Of Power, drummer David Garibaldi and current bassist Marc van Wageningen, were struck by a train in California. Both men are responsive and being treated at a local hospital in Oakland."

The enduring band was founded in Oakland in 1968 and became known for its big, brassy sound blending funk and rock. Their highest-charting song is 1973's "So Very Hard to Go," but the band has continued to record and perform with a rotating line-up, and will turn 50 next year.

Amtrak train 547, on the Capitol Corridor line that travels between Sacramento and San Jose, had 26 passengers onboard with no reported injuries to passengers or crew, Amtrak officials said. They added that the two pedestrians struck by the train were trespassing on the tracks. Ambtrack did not address whether or not there was a malfunction with the crossing gate or lights.

Tower of Power canceled a concert they were slated to play at Yoshi's Thursday night.</s>2 members of R&B band Tower of Power hit by train, injured

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Two members of the R&B group Tower of Power were hit by a train as they walked across tracks before a scheduled gig in Oakland, California, but both survived.

The group's publicist Jeremy Westby said in a statement Thursday night that drummer David Garibaldi and bass player Marc van Wageningen are both responsive and being treated at a hospital.

The Oakland Fire Department said earlier that two pedestrians were hit by a passenger train at Jack London Square about 7:30 p.m.

This Aug. 2016 photo provided by courtesy of Tower of Power/Webster Public Relations, shows the band members from Tower of Power, from left, Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Sal Cracchiolo, Adolfo Acosta, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Marcus Scott, Tom E. Politzer, Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, and Jerry Cortez. Two members of Tower of Power, a group that has been an R&B institution for nearly 50 years, were hit by a train Thursday night, Jan. 12, 2017, as they walked across tracks before a scheduled gig in their hometown of Oakland, Calif., but both survived, their manager said. Calling it an "unfortunate accident," manager Jeremy Westby said in a statement that drummer Garibaldi and bass player Marc van Wageningen (not pictured) are "responsive and being treated at a local hospital." (Tower of Power/Webster Public Relations via AP)

The accident was near Yoshi's, a jazz club where the group had been scheduled to play two shows Thursday night. Both were canceled.

The group of about a dozen musicians, mostly horns, has been a popular institution in the R&B world since forming in Oakland in 1968.</s>Two members of the Bay Area R&B band Tower of Power were struck Thursday evening by a train in Oakland.

“Both men are responsive and being treated” at a hospital, said Jeremy Westby, a publicist for the band. He described the incident as “an unfortunate accident.”

The accident occurred about 7:30 p.m. at Jack London Square, near the jazz club Yoshi’s. The band was scheduled to perform at Yoshi’s on Thursday.

Click here to read the full story on LATimes.com.</s>Two members of the band Tower of Power were hit by a train in Jack London Square on Thursday night, according to fire officials. Victor Pamiroyan, a friend of the band members, said Tower of Power was scheduled to play two shows at Yoshi's nightclub Thursday night.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Los Gatos Weekly-Times.</s>Two members of iconic Bay Area band Tower of Power were struck by an Amtrak train near Oakland's Jack London Square and taken to a hospital Thursday night, according to a band spokesperson. Kim Yonenaka reports.

Start the conversation, or Read more at NBC Miami.</s>OAKLAND, Calif. — Two members of the funk-rock band Tower of Power are recovering after being hit by a train, the group’s representative said.

“In an unfortunate accident…drummer David Garibaldi and current bassist Marc van Wageningen were struck by a train in California,” said their PR agent Jeremy Westby in a statement to CNN. Both men are responsive and being treated at a hospital, according to Westby.

KRON reports that the accident happened while the men were walking in Jack London Square, near the concert venue in the Embarcadero area of Oakland.

The Oakland Fire Department said “multiple pedestrians hit by train,” in a tweet and that two ambulances were requested.

Garibaldi and Wageningen were not in the designated crosswalk when they were hit, an Amtrak spokesperson told KGO.

The band was scheduled to perform Thursday night at Yoshi’s music venue in Oakland. Their two concerts have been canceled according to the club’s website.

A video posted on the band’s Facebook page showed Tower of Power performing at Yoshi’s earlier this week.

The Oakland-based Tower of Power was founded in 1968 and its horn driven sound has been featured on songs by Elton John, Santana, Rod Stewart and Aerosmith.

Their own hits include songs such as “You’re Still a Young Man” and “What is Hip.”
Two members of funk band Tower of Power are seriously injured after being struck by a train near Jack London Square in Oakland, California.