On this day in 1986, troubled guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allen Collins, was involved in a car wreck which left him paralyzed from the waist down and killed his girlfriend. How much longer would he live?

Answer: Nearly four years

Here’s the rest of today’s Rock N’ Roll Diary!

• 1974: Ringo Starr hit #1 with his single “You’re 16.”
• 1977: Fleetwood Mac founding member Peter Green was committed to a mental institution after attacking an accountant who had been trying to deliver a royalty check of $30,000 to his house.
• Also in 1977: While opening a concert for Bob Seger, singer Patti Smith fell off a stage in Tampa and had to be rushed to the hospital for 22 stitches in her head.
• 1986: Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and killed his girlfriend.
• 1997: ZZ Top, James Brown, and the Blues Brothers performed at the Superbowl XXXI Halftime Show.
• 2003: Santana played at Super Bowl XXXVII.
• From the WZLX ticket stash…Jerry Garcia and Howard Wales played Symphony Hall in 1972.