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Giant hay bale crushes ex-ELO star to death

Cellist Mike Edwards, 62, died after the 1,323 lb bale rolled down a steep field in Devon, southern England, smashed through a hedge and careered on to the road.
/ Source: msnbc.com staff and news service reports

A giant bale of hay has killed a founding member of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) after it tumbled down a hill and crashed into his van.

Cellist Mike Edwards, 62, died after the 1,323 lb bale rolled down a steep field in Devon, southern England, smashed through a hedge and careered on to the road.

He died instantly in the freak accident on Friday afternoon.

Sgt. Steve Walker, of Devon and Cornwall police, described the crash as "a tragic accident," the BBC reported.

YouTube footage
Police said they used photographs and YouTube footage to identify Edwards and are investigating whether the bale may have fallen from a tractor working on farmland near the road.

Edwards, who played with the band between 1972 and 1975, is believed to have swerved into another vehicle as the bale crushed his vehicle.

ELO eventually sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

Britain's Mirror newspaper reported that Edwards quit the band at the height of its fame to become a Buddhist.