Help Judy replace totaled car and finish her tour

Hey, I’m Judy Blank. I’m a singer-songwriter from the Netherlands, and I recently moved to the United States to share my songs with the people here. Yesterday, we got into a semi-truck accident on the way to Dallas, and my car was totaled while being halfway through my first ever North American tour.

The reason I moved here is that I love the US with every bone in my body. I love cruising around this country, I’ve made lifelong friends all over the place, and everyone has always been extremely kind to me and receptive to my music.

I was excited to take my friend and guitar player Mair in my own car out on this first ever, 23 dates duo tour across the United States. Earlier this year, after having paid off my visa, I poured my last savings into buying a 2008 Honda Pilot. I knew I wanted a Pilot, because my friend let me borrow hers sometimes, and it made me feel solid & safe. I proudly named her “Hetty the Honda”. After I bought her, unfortunately, it turned out she needed a lot of TLC to make her road ready, which I generously gave her with the help of H&H automotive in Nashville, knowing that this was needed to have a safe vehicle on the road that would get us to these shows.

We had an incredibly meaningful first twelve days, meeting folks, driving and playing cities, connecting with people all over the Northeast. We even drove Hetty into the heart of Manhattan, New York, before making our way back to Nashville, where we played a magical hometown show at the East Room and got to sleep in our own bed for one night before continuing the tour yesterday morning.

Everything was going smooth, until a 10 second freak accident on Interstate 30 changed everything. We were on our way from Nashville to Dallas for our next show, when a semitruck in the right lane blew a tire and swerved into the left lane as we were about to pass him. I successfully steered towards the left shoulder to avoid him crashing into us, when another semitruck that was in the lane behind me hit us on the right side, pushed us off the highway and crashed us into a metal fence in the median. The truck that hit us never stopped.

Ironically, we crashed in a town called “Friendship”, and I can’t begin to describe how thankful I am that my dear friend Mair is okay. It’s a miracle both of us came out of that wreck without a scratch. If I had driven a smaller car, we would have been sandwiched, and according to the officer that was on site, likely wouldn’t have lived to tell the story. The side airbag popped, so I didn’t hit my head on the window. I didn’t even know she HAD side airbags. Hetty saved our lives. But it is with tears in my eyes that I have to let you all know that she is beyond saving and a total loss.

Because of this unharrowing event, we are now forced to rent a car to finish this tour. Because of my international status, all the extra boxes I ticked when getting this insurance were rejected without me knowing, and to my despair, yesterday I found out that all I had was liability insurance. Because it was a hit and run, no one is responsible for the damage done, and nothing, absolutely none of this, is covered.

I don’t really know what’s going to happen next. But as shaken up as I am, and as much as me & Mair are both hesitant to get back behind the wheel, what we hope to do is continue this tour. To prove that we can overcome this, and find some silver linings. That is what I moved to the other side of the planet for; to bring people together in rooms, create community, and share stories and songs so wacky kids like ourselves can feel seen and heard all over this fantastic country.

We hope you come out to see us on our remaining dates, and as reluctant as I am to ask, I’m hoping that you sweet people – friends and strangers alike – might be able to contribute anything to help me replace my vehicle. It would also immediately help pay for the rental to continue this tour, and honestly; to get me (Judy) a US driver’s license so I can apply for a full coverage insurance as soon as I get it. We believe in the magic of music. We believe in our mission. We believe in community. At the very least, thank you for reading all this. I hope to see you in your city very soon.

Judy & Mair