Former Electric Light Orchestra member killed by huge hay bale

One of the founding members of ELO was killed when a large bale of hay rolled down a slope and landed on top of his van on September 3.

Mike Edwards, 62, was the cellist in ELO for three years. The Daily Mail reported that he died instantly when the 700 pound (50 stone) hay bale rolled down a steeply sloping field, flipped over a hedge and landed on the front cab of his van. The transit-type van swerved after it was hit and struck a smaller van travelling in the other direction. The driver of that vehicle was not hurt. 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.” As a member of ELO, Edwards often wore outlandish costumes and would sometimes pluck the cello string with oranges or grapefruit. He left the band in January 1975 to become a Buddhist. He later changed his name to Deva Pramada.