Contemporary Christian music veteran Rich Mullins, 41, was killed in a car accident Friday, Sept. 19, between 9 and 10 p.m. on Interstate 39 in LaSalle County, Illinois. Also in the accident was Mitch McVicker, 25, who wrote, performed and lived on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock, Ariz., with Mullins. McVicker is presently hospitalized in critical condition. Born Oct. 21, 1955, Mullins, a bachelor, is survived by his mother, Neva, of Richmond, Ind., two older sisters, and two younger brothers.

At this time the sheriff’s report of the accident is not available, but according to Mullins’ manager, James E. Dunning, Jr., Mullins and McVicker were traveling in a Jeep from Chicago to Wichita, Kansas. It is believed the car passed a tractor-trailer and the accident occurred in a matter of minutes. The car’s wheels came off the shoulder of the road and the driver lost control of the vehicle. It is not known who was driving. Both Mullins and McVicker were thrown from the car. The tractor-trailer swerved to miss the vehicle and McVicker, but instead hit Mullins in the other lane. Mullins died instantly.

On behalf of himself and Gay Quisenberry of Crucible Productions, who managed Mullins for 12 years, Dunning said, “We both thank you for your continued prayers and ask that people respect the privacy and wishes of the family. We also ask that you respect the people of the Navajo Nation and their privacy as well. This is both a horrible time and a good time for such a tragic accident. It is horrible because Rich was so young and such a great writer. But it was a good time in a way, too, because Rich was at peace with his life. I take great comfort in knowing that when I talked to Rich on Thursday afternoon before the accident, he was experiencing the greatest peace he had known in his life.”