Andrew Shawaf

Well, you had to see this one coming. We have all heard about the tragic plane crash that killed 4 people in South Carolina and seriously injured Travis Barker and DJ AM. Travis and DJ, formally known as Adam Goldstein, both suffered serious burn injuries and underwent burn treatment and a series of surgeries following the plane crash, and are still being treated for their injuries. And now Travis Barker has filed a suit over this plane crash that killed two of his friends, and injured he and DJ AM. Barker’s suit names the owners of the plane, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, as well as a maintenance company for damages, and he is looking for more than $25,000 in damages. His suit states that the companies fialed to maintain the plane properly, and that the plane was improperly operated. And Barker’s suit is not the only one filed. His assistant Chris Baker and his bodyguard Charles Monroe Still Jr. were among the fatalities, and Still’s mother, Thelma Martin Still is also suing the companies. Once news of the suits leaked, the companies involved in the suit and those named would not answer their phones to comment on the case. I have to say, this is not at all surprising that this has come to light, the only thing that does surprise me is the amount. I would have expected damages to be much higher, but perhaps Travis is merely trying to make a point with the case and not appear as a money gouger.

Martin Grimes

For the first time since the plane crash that severely injured Travis Barker and DJ AM and killed four passengers, DJ AM has come public with details surrounding the crash and in describing the chain of events and how he handled the entire situation. DJ discusses how the night started with him falling asleep on the plane after their gig in South Carolina. He was asleep on the runway and then the you know what hit the fan as he recounted to People Magazine:

The next thing I remember is us crashing into something. I woke up to (fellow survivor Travis Barker) screaming and the plane engulfed in flames. I remember thinking it was like ‘Miami Vice,’ where a car is on fire and you run before the gas tank explodes - we gotta get out of here!

When they realized they needed to jump out, they did, and DJ AM says he had to jump through a fireball to rush out of the plane. They stopped, dropped, and rolled, but still Barker remained engulfed in flames. DJ tried to save him by smothering Travis with his own body, and says that some of his own injuries and burns came from doing that. Travis’s sock was on fire he remembers, and DJ burned his fingers trying to take it off of him. As we know, DJ and Travis were treated at the Augusta Burn Unit and he says the days following he didn’t want anyone to look at him, and in fact, says they probably didn’t want to anyway. He describes the bandages like they were a ski mask but was so traumatized by the whole thing, it didn’t occur to him at first that he may have ended up scarred for life. When he first came to clarity and consciousness on the situation, he wanted to know first about the other passengers, but said in his heart, he already knew their fate and that they had died on impact. But he says that was almost a relief to him, as then, they wouldn’t have suffered any pain. On top of these struggles, DJ AM is a recovering addict and has been for ten years, and is considering intensive one on one therapy to help him get through this, and to get a diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder. But at the end of the day, it is nothing but gratitude that inspires from this man.

I can’t believe I made it. I’ve prayed every night for the past 10 years. There’s a lot more to thank God for now. … I was saved for a reason. Maybe I’m going to help someone else. I don’t question it. All I know is I’m thankful to be here.

And of course, we are thankful as well. And I am sure this is not the last we will hear from either Travis or DJ AM, and undoubtedly, they will put their inspiration to help others. We look forward to seeing that unfold.

Josephine Santos, Pacificcoastnews

Travis Barker Posts Pics of Hospital Stay and Squelches any Shannah Rumors Floating Around ~ Bitten and Bound

Johnny Depp Takes the Sexiest Man Alive Title from Cosmopolitan Magazine. What?? ~ Holllywire

Forty-Something Carol Alt Struts her Stuff by Posing for Playboy ~ Hot Momma Gossip

Bobby Rachpoot, PacificCoastNews

Is Halle Berry Preggo Again? Check out this BUMP! ~ Bitten and Bound

Travis Barker Talks About His Biggest Fear. Plane Crashes. ~ Hot Momma Gossip

Kim Kardashian Must be Out of Work. She Wants to Dance With the Stars. Again. ~ Hollywire

David Tonnessen, PacificCoastNews.com

DJ AM, officially known as Adam Goldstein, made his first public appearance on Monday after he was involved in a Learjet crash that injured him and Travis Barker, and killed four others. One of the fatalities in the crash was Travis Barker’s assistant, Chris Barker, a man that was well known and well loved within the Travis and DJ AM circle. A memorial was held in Los Angeles on Monday for Chris and Adam arrived by limousine to pay his respects. An additional 300 guests attended the memorial and many folks stood up to share memories and tell stories of the young man in a service that lasted two hours. Chris Baker was described as Travis’s best friend and right hand man and his loss has devastated many. Chris is survived by his wife, Otillia Villar and his two year old son Sebastian. Chris’s wife asked everyone to wear green for the event, no mourning garb allowed, as green was Chris’s favourite color and so Adam was more than happy to oblige. DJ Am was released last week from the burn unit in Augusta, Georgia where he was treated immediately following the crash, and Travis Barker was released this past Monday but was not able to make the service due to the extent of his injuries. We continue to wish DJ AM and Travis Barker a speedy recovery, and our hearts go to those that suffered losses in this tragic crash.

Martin Grimes

Every day that passes brings new information about the tragic plane crash that killed four people and critically injured Travis Barker and DJ AM. As we all know, DJ AM and Travis Barker both suffered serious burns on various parts of their body and have been receiving treatment in Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. As of today, DJ AM, officially known as Adam Goldstein was released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Travis Barker on the other hand has suffered much more extensive injuries and is expected to remain in the hospital for at least another two weeks. An eyewitness has come forth saying he witnessed the whole accident and was the first responder on the scene of the Learjet crash. His name is Curtis Parham, and he was the first person to talk to the two rockers immediately following the crash last Friday night. He describes the accident here:

“I was in my truck sitting next to the runway in the [nearby] parking area,” he recalls. “I heard this scraping noise like metal scraping. I saw the plane come down the runway on the belly of the plane. It made a oud ‘bump,’ and bounced. It looked like it was going around 120 or 130 miles per hour … Then, I saw a big plume of dust and gas and smoke.”

Curtis called 911 and drove to the crash scene with a flashlight. He described Travis and DJ AM as pacing approximately fifty or sixty yards from the plane and Travis kept saying `Òh my god, oh my god“ At the time, all other four passengers on the plane, including Travis`s bodyguard Charles Still and Travis`s assistant Chris Barker were in the plane, and as we know, perished in the crash. Curtis said the aviation fuel at the time was still running across the highway and had ignited, leaving flames spurling across the road. He said when the emergency responders got there, they couldn`t get through due to the extent of the fire. Barker had kept saying that he wanted to get back on the plane to get the other passengers out, but there was no way to even get to the burning Learjet. At the same time, Travis and DJ AM had already suffered their burn injuries and were in extraordinary pain. Barker was carried to an ambulance where he sat on the bumper with DJ Am and they complained of being thirsty and that their eyes were burning from the aviation fuel. They were given some water to flush out their eyes as well as to drink while they tried to process the entire situation. Curtis says it was one of the most traumatic experiences of his life to even witness that, and he can`t imagine what it must have been like to go through it. He hasn`t slept well and is thinking often of the two young men who survived the crash. He hopes that he will be able to see them again and let them know he is sending prayers and blessings to them.

Adrian Varnedoe, PacificCoastNews.com

You would never guess that Shanna and Travis were ex-spouses this week as Shanna has worked quickly to act as a tremendous support aide to Travis Barker in his time of need. Upon hearing of the plane crash that killed four people, and seriously injured Travis Barker and DJ AM this past weekend, Shanna was devastated but pulled herself together to rush to Travis’s side at the burn unit in Georgia. I don’t know, I have always had a hunch about these two, they just can’t seem to stay apart, and disaster does have a tendency to bring people closer together. This tragedy may be something that sees a reunion of these two. Shanna has rushed to Travis’s side and is working hard to lift his spirits. Travis is not just dealing with the post-trauma of a plane crash, but also coping and struggling with the loss of one of his best friends, and personal assistant Chris Baker who died in the crash. Shanna describes Chris as a family member to them, and they are both torn about his death. But Shanna is working very hard to keep herself together for the sake of Travis, and for the sake of their family that includes two small children Landon who is 4 and Alabama who is 2. But Travis is not the only one that is getting rekindled support. DJ AM has been blessed with the good heart of ex-girlfriend Mandy Moore who has rushed to his side following the crash as well. Both of the men are still in critical but stable condition, and between the hands of the doctors and the good folks at the Joseph Still Burn Center in Augusta, and these two women with big hearts, it sounds like they are in very good hands.

Nathanael Jones

Since the devastating plane crash involving a private Learjet occurred in South Carolina’s Columbia Airport Friday night, fans of Travis Barker and DJ AM have been anxiously awaiting to hear on the status of their conditions. Following the crash, Travivs and DJ AM were taken to a burn unit in Augusta, Georgia in critical condition. As it stands now, both rockers are doing very well and doctors on the case state that considering both Barker and DJ AM were in good health to begin with, and did not suffer any additional crash related complications, a full recovery is expected for both of them. With significant burn injuries, doctors say that a full recovery for both rockers could take up to a year, but given their health, recovery is expected much earlier. Travis has suffered severe burns on his torso as well as his lower body, and DJ AM experienced burns on his arm and on a portion of his head. Both of the guys are still listed as critical and remain in the Intensive Care Unit, however, their condition has stabilized and they are doing as well as can be hoped for. As far as their emotional state is concerned, doctors report that 45% of all burn victims experience emotional distress, and when you add a plane crash on top of that, distress and trauma is to be expected. On Saturday morning, Shanna Moakler, Travis’ ex-wife and mother of his two young children, flew to his side to assist him during his recovery. The plane crash involved a total of six people on flight, and these names have since been released. The six people on the plane were pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31; co-pilot James Bland, 52, security guard Charles Still, 25, Travis’s assistant Chris Baker, 29; and of course Travis Barker and DJ AM. Since the crash, rumors have circulated that the group had taken the private Learjet upon hearing that Travis’s assistant Chris had just received news that his wife was going into labor. Travis does not normally fly in private planes, but it was said that this emergency situation led him to make an exception for his assistant Chris Baker. It has been confirmed that Chris Baker’s wife is pregnant, and that he is survived by one other very small child, but there is no confirmation as to whether that was the cause of them taking the private jet to begin with. As far as the crash itself is concerned, the crash is still under investigation, though reports from air traffic control indicate that some sparks were seen coming from the runway upon takeoff, and that the plane itself overran the airstrip and ran into a number of airport lights and antenna. Investigators are not sure if the sparks were from the engines or from the aircraft itself. It has been said that DJ AM and Travis are the only survivors due to the fact that they jumped out of the door of the burning plane almost immediately after the private jet came to a halt. Our deepest sympathies go to those that lost loved ones in this horrific incident, and our best wishes to Travis, DJ AM, and their families that the two will experience a swift and full recovery.