Monday, September 22, 2008

MINORITY REPORT: TRAVIS BARKER AND DJ AM SURVIVE PLANE CRASH

Travis Barker and DJ AM were among six people aboard a Learjet that crashed upon takeoff from a Columbia, South Carolina, airport after midnight Friday.The four others onboard were killed.



Barker, an ex-drummer for the rock band Blink 182 and the star of the MTV reality show Meet the Barkers, had performed at a free Friday-night college event with former Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell, Gavin DeGraw and DJ AM.
Barker, 32, was taken to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, about 75 miles southwest of Columbia, and was listed in critical condition Saturday morning – as was DJ AM (real name: Adam Michael Goldstein), 35, say officials at the facility. "Both Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein are in critical but stable condition," Beth Frits, spokesperson for the Joseph M. Still Burn Center reports. "Goldstein was airlifted here and Barker was brought by ground transportation. So they arrived separately."

According to South Carolina's Lexington County coroner, Harry Harman, and deputy coroner, Brian Setree, the four others on the plane were killed. They are: pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, Calif.; security guard Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles; and Barker's assistant Chris Baker, 29, also of Los Angeles.

"The plane crashed on takeoff and went through a fence near Highway 302, then crossed the road and went up an embankment before being filled with flames," she said. "There was debris all over the runway. We are closed now and hope to reopen later today."

Both are being treated for second- and third-degree burns. Mullins says recovery from such burns can take as long as a year but says that the men suffered no other injuries, adding: "Since both Barker and Goldstein are in overall good health and didn't suffer from any other crash-related complications, a full recovery is expected."

Mullins says Barker was burned on his torso and lower body, while DJ AM, was burned on his arms and a portion of his head. The doctor described both as remaining in critical but stable condition and in the intensive-care unit of the hospital. Regarding their emotional state, he declined to discuss specifics, but said of burn victims that "45 percent of all patients have some emotional trouble."

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