Many in Piedmont have followed brothers Max and Cole Becker, who as school kids helped rebuild the footbridge in Dracena Park, went on to study music, launched a successful rock band called SWMRS, and embarked on a tour that included several Piedmonters and was taking them across the U.S. and Europe.
Which is why friends and fans of the band both inside and outside Piedmont froze for a moment when news broke that Max and two members of the band’s crew had been involved in a serious car crash Monday night. At about 8:15 pm the tour van carrying the three slid across black ice on Interstate 80 in Wyoming, spun out of control and rolled over multiple times.
Max was the most severely injured, with broken shoulders, rib fractures, a bruised lung and head trauma. SWMRS sound engineer and Piedmont High grad Josh Berl received a broken arm and a severe gash to his head. Photographer Natalie Somekh of Newport Beach, Ca. escaped with minor injuries. The other members of the band — Cole Becker, Seb Mueller and Joey Armstrong — were not traveling in the van that night.
According to Mark Becker, Max and Cole’s dad, as the van rolled over Max was thrown through a window. When the van came to rest Josh’s arm was pinned to the roof. Natalie was able to crawl out of the wreckage through a window. In a note posted Thursday to Instagram, Natalie recounted; “We were in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming, I was scared to death, but I knew that I needed to keep it together in order to keep my friends alive.” In the darkness she flagged down a passing trucker who stopped and gave them aid.
The accident occurred near the tiny central Wyoming town of Rawlins where temperatures were between 10-15 degrees that night with snow flurries, wind and poor visibility. Natalie and the trucker did what they could to keep Max and Josh warm until rescue arrived 45 minutes later. After being examined in Rawlins they were all driven to an intensive care hospital in Casper, Wyoming, arriving nearly four hours later. Josh and Natalie have both been released from the hospital.
Speaking to the Exedra today from Max’s bedside in intensive care, Mark Becker said the prognosis for Max is promising. “The doctor is optimistic that he will recover from this. It’s kind of a miracle given all his injuries. On Monday we’ll fly him to Craig Hospital in Denver for six weeks weeks of intensive in-patient rehab. We’ll all move to Denver.”
Mark added that the whole family is there with Max, and that he and Max’s mom Tami are moved by the response coming from Piedmont. “Tell Piedmont we give our thanks to you. So many of you reached out to help sort out medical care, make recommendations, offer planes, more generosity than we can individually respond to. It’s a testament to Piedmont. “
SWMRS Twitter page announced that the band’s remaining 2019 tour dates will be cancelled. Exedra will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
Max has been transferred to a rehab hospital/facility near Denver — the attached has the address & a request to flood the mail with well-wishes. I know that his family will be reading all the notes to him, so if you want to send something it will be quite welcome.
https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/swmrs-encourage-fans-to-send-postcards-to-max-becker-following-van-accident/
Max,
I don’t know how else to contact you, so I hope your dad or mom can tell you how much I’ll be praying for your healing, full recovery and doing the necessary rehab. You’re my favorite prom guy, so hang in there and be tough for this one.
Tami,
Sending good thoughts to your beautiful family .
Glad you are all together to heal and be strong .
love, Sydney
Sending healing thoughts and prayers for a quick and thorough recovery for Max.
Dear and much-loved Max, Josh, Natalie, Cole, Tami, Mark and entire band and your families, we are very sorry for what happened this fateful Monday, but thanks God it wasn’t worse. Because your very positive energy, power of love, strong strength, exceptional good heart and kindness to others, we deeply know that you Max are going to be completely healed soon and overcome this difficult time. In few months you are going to laugh about this, and we guess, you already are joking about it! You know. You are Max, the unique SWMRS guy! By the way, thank you Natalie for your precise and quick reaction! Max & SWMRS, we hope and expect to see you soon in New York. With deeply love and prayers for you all, Vivianne and Theo.
We are thinking about Max, Tami, Mark, Cole, Marki and Cade constantly. We know the power of love and positive energy surrounding Max will give him the strength he needs to move forward through these challenges. We do not know a closer knit family who possess all the qualities needed to forge the path ahead . Your devotion to one another is inspiring. In Becker family style we know you will look challenges in the face and stare them down, move through the days with your love for each other, intelligence, creativity and the humour. Also, we know your extended family and friends are a tight devoted group and will be with you through the days ahead. We are with you and here for you. Martha and Dore Griffinger
Sending love and prayers to you Max and the entire family. We ❤️ You all.
Holding Max and the family in my thoughts and prayers. All of Piedmont has been sad and shook this week and feel helpless Good vibes work though and there are thousands coming your way Becker family.
Warmly,
Huldah Hodgkinson