Hay bale kills rock star

A founding member of the Electric Light Orchestra has been killed in a freak accident involving a giant bale of hay.

By Robert Carry

62-year-old Mike Edwards was in his van when a 50 stone bale of hay rolled down a slope, bounded over a hedge and landed on top of his vehicle. Edwards’ van swerved and struck another van travelling in the opposite direction. The rocker was killed instantly, while the driver of the other vehicle was unhurt.

Police said the accident took place in Devon around 12.30pm on Friday.

“We are liaising with the health and safety people and gathering evidence from the scene of the accident and the field,” The Daily Mail quoted inspector Andy Hamilton as saying.

“The van came into contact with a very large bale of hay. We are investigating how this came to happen.”

The cellist was a member of ELO for three years during which time he became known for wearing outlandish costumes and plucking his cello strings with oranges and grapefruit.

Edwards left the band in 1975 to become a Buddhist and later changed his name to Deva Pramada.