KISS Collaborator Karl Cochran, 61, Killed in Freak Accident Involving His 90-Year-Old Mom

"Karl was a vocalist and guitarist extraordinaire ... He was loved by our fans worldwide," KISS said in an X statement

Published on February 21, 2025 09:21PM EST

Karl Cochran. Photo:

KISS/Instagtam

Guitarist Karl Cochran, known for his collaborations with KISS, has died after a car accident in Bridgewater, N.J., local police confirmed. He was 61.

Cochran was in the passenger seat of a 2015 Subaru Legacy when it crashed into a tree around 7:20 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 19, Bridgewater Township Police Department said. His 90-year-old mother, Arna Chocran, was driving.

"She backed the vehicle across the front yard and struck a tree, ejecting" Cochran, police added.

The incident occurred on private property. Cochran was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick via New Jersey State Police NorthSTAR, "with life threatening injuries" where he died.

PEOPLE reached out to Bridgewater police and its Traffic Safety Bureau on Friday, Feb. 21.

KISS paid tribute to Cochran with a touching post on X Thursday, Feb. 20.

"Our dear friend Karl Cochran was killed in a car accident on Feb. 19th. Karl was a vocalist and guitarist extraordinaire who suffered a massive stroke but never stopped fighting to make his way back," the post, which showed a photo of Cochran and KISS guitarist Paul Stanley smiling together.

The band continued, "He was loved by our fans worldwide through his appearances worldwide and was a constant inspiration as our guest on our KISS Kruises. Our deep condolences to Geri and family."

KISS' Bruce Kulick also shared kind words on X, stating that news of his death "was gut wrenching to hear."

"Karl was a fantastic musician who I worked with in a band called ESP (Eric Singer Project). He was a gentle giant who was taken too soon from all of us."

He shared that Cochran suffered a stroke "many years ago," however, the health scare "took nothing away of his spirit, love and humanity. It made him even more special in his own unique way."

"As a frequent guest on the Kiss Kruise everyone that met him was touched with his smile and his special passion of life. My condolences to his family and his wonderful fiancé Ger Fasano who was his loving partner. RIP 😭."

Bridgewater Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau is investigating the crash with Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, authorities said.

PEOPLE contacted the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office for comment.

Those with any information are urged to contact Officer Cole Taggert of the Bridgewater Police Traffic Safety Bureau at (908)722-4111 ext. 4088 or the Bridgewater TIPS line at 877-660-INFO (4636).