J. Cole has canceled a California concert hours before it was set to begin following the death of a member of his touring crew. The rapper was scheduled to perform at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thursday night, but the venue announced the last-minute cancellation after a crew member was killed in an incident earlier that morning.
Local reports indicate the victim was driving a semi-truck that veered off a highway and overturned. The vehicle was carrying equipment from the previous night's show at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena. Authorities confirmed the driver died at the scene and identified him as 66-year-old Jarlath Parkinson of South Carolina, according to the Yolo County Coroner's Office.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. David Barker said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. «It's unknown at this time, may have been a distraction or fell asleep,» Barker said via CBS News. «Unfortunately, the solo occupant did not survive the crash.»
The Golden 1 Center shared a statement on social media announcing the cancellation, writing: «Following the tragic passing of a member of the touring crew in a trucking accident this morning, J. Cole's performance at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento tonight, August 27, has been cancelled. Our thoughts are with the crew member's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.»
Ticket holders for the Sacramento show will receive automatic refunds. Those who purchased tickets through third-party resellers were advised to contact the sellers directly for reimbursement.
The cancellation comes during J. Cole's tour celebrating his latest album «The Fall Off.» The tour is scheduled to resume in Oakland over the weekend of August 29 and 30, followed by shows in Los Angeles the following week. From there, the tour is set to head to the UK and Europe in October, including two performances at The O2 in London.
The incident highlights the often-unseen risks faced by touring crews who travel between venues, transporting equipment and staging across long distances. Parkinson's death marks a somber moment for the production team behind one of hip-hop's most anticipated tours of the year.