Musician dies in Franklin collision

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Musician Billy Swayze, 32, of Franklin, Ky. died early Saturday morning after a collision on Nashville Road in Franklin.

The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office was called at 1:52 a.m. to a two-vehicle collision on Nashville Road near Peden Mill Road in Franklin.

Burt Reynolds, 34, of Glasgow, Ky. was driving south in a white 2017 Kenworth semi tractor-trailer truck. Swayze was behind Reynolds in a silver 2006 Ford Mustang, according to the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office. The Mustang struck the back end of the semi’s trailer.

The Simpson County Coroner’s Office pronounced Swayze dead at the scene. Reynolds was not injured. This collision is still under investigation.

The news shook Bowling Green pub owner Johnetta Pryor to her core. Pryor’s son Jeremy was killed a traffic collision Nov. 21, 2014. Jeremy Pryor was the drummer for Swayze in the Swayze Band. Swayze sang and played guitar.

Pryor closed her popular music venue Saturday.

“Billy had a lot of friends and meant a lot to a lot of people,” Pryor said.

“He was the whole package. He and Jeremy were best friends. He was like my third son.

“We met a lot in Franklin for Sunday brunches. We talked on the phone at least three times a week,” Pryor said.

After Jeremy Pryor’s death, Swayze told Johnetta Pryor he lost his passion for playing in a band. But he had recently been renovating his Franklin studio and was preparing to record a song in which Jeremy had provided the percussion. He was looking forward to getting a band together again.

Swayze sang at Jeremy Pryor’s funeral, Johnetta Pryor said.

“It’s just like it never ends,” Pryor said of the losses of both her son and Swayze.