As reported by the Navasota Examiner

The Wade Bowen band’s sound engineer, Richard Denton Caldwell of Anderson, 35, was found dead inside a 2004 Volkswagen after he reportedly lost control of his vehicle, which was discovered overturned in the Navasota River early Thursday morning.

“Although new to our family, his passion and drive for excellence in the art of audio engineering was unsurpassed. He was a great man and will be greatly missed,” said Bowen. “Heaven is going to sound a lot better now.”

A passerby made the 911 call, at approximately 1 a.m., but a report by Department of Public Safety Trooper Kindell of Bryan states the 1-vehicle accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, near the intersection of FM 244 and CR 162.

Trooper Kindell reported that Caldwell was headed northwest on CR 162, a dirt road in Grimes County, when he lost control inside a curve, sending the Volkswagen off a bridge and into the river below.

It is unknown if the trapped driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident.

Grimes County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Gene Stapleton pronounced Caldwell dead at the scene at 3 a.m.

Nobles Funeral Chapel, Inc. of Navasota transported Caldwell’s body to the Conroe Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Caldwell leaves behind a wife named Katy and a young son.

Bowen said, out of respect for the family, a show scheduled for tonight at The Electric Cowboy in Tyler would be postponed until May 16.