The 542-word unsigned letter, at www.davematthewsband.com
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, is intended to clarify and “resolve any misunderstandings” about how the band has cooperated with authorities and how it feels about the incident in light of comments the band has read in fan e-mails and media reports, according to the letter.“We care deeply about what happened to the people on the boat that day, which was terrible, and the damage that occurred to Chicago’s environment,” the letter states. “We are not attempting to avoid any responsibility we may have for the incident.”
About two-thirds of the 120 passengers on a Chicago River architecture tour were doused Aug. 8 with roughly 800 pounds of raw sewage police say was dumped by one of the band’s tour buses as it crossed over a grated bridge on Kinzie Street.
A civil lawsuit filed by Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan identified one of the band’s drivers, Stefan A. Wohl, as the person who dumped the sewage. The suit is seeking $70,000 in fines.
Chicago police also showed the media a videotape they said identified one of the band’s buses passing over the bridge at the approximate time of the dumping. Authorities are still investigating whether criminal charges will be filed.
The letter states that the band has cooperated fully with Chicago authorities, providing access to drivers and tour management, license plate numbers for their five tour buses and photographs, and offering to supply DNA evidence to determine if the group is responsible.
“In short, we have worked with the Chicago authorities in every way we can,” the letter states. “If we were responsible for what happened, we will work quickly to make amends, with the people on the boat and with Chicago.”
The driver was the only person on the bus during the time that police say the incident occurred, and “he has told us that he had nothing to do with this incident,” the letter states. The band has not seen the evidence police have referred to, but the letter states that “we have a few narrow but critical questions related to what we have seen of the evidence in the media.”
The letter also states that the band considers the incident “extremely important” because it touches on environmental issues, accountability and “more importantly, simple principles of humanity.”
But the band defends Wohl, who is not named in the letter, saying the driver is considered family. He has worked for the band for five years, according to the letter.
“In that time, he has earned our respect and trust,” the letter states. “In light of that, we take his statements seriously and ask for everyone’s patience until we resolve our concerns.”