How a high-voltage crash with Bon Scott made rock and roll history

FORTY years ago, Lee Morgan was involved in an accident that not only changed his life but quite possibly rock and roll history. He smashed into Bon Scott.

Singer Bon Scott pictured in 1976 performing with AC/DC.

FORTY years ago, Lee Morgan was involved in an accident that not only changed his life but, quite possibly, the course of rock and roll history.

Mr Morgan, 57, who was just 17 at the time, piled into his FC Holden with mates on a rainy night and was heading down to Port Adelaide when a motorcycle seemingly came out of nowhere, smashing into the vehicle and sending its rider through the car’s windscreen.

Unbeknown to Mr Morgan, the man whose bloodied body was protruding through the vehicle’s windscreen in the north-western suburbs was none other than Bon Scott.

More: Unseen pictures of Bon Scott playing with the Mt Lofty Rangers

“It was absolutely horrifying ... then I was reading in The Sunday Mail that it was Bon Scott — I couldn’t believe it,” Mr Morgan said.

The bike collided at such speed Mr Morgan’s FC Holden was written off. News_Image_File: Bon Scott, one-time lead singer of AC/DC.

Numerous biographies on AC/DC and Scott suggest that the singer was intoxicated.

Mr Morgan, who had posters of Scott’s band Fraternity on his walls, was charged with not giving way but was eventually let off in court

The rock god, on the other hand, lost numerous teeth, broke his collarbone, slashed his neck and was in a coma for three days.

These injuries kept the singer in Adelaide long enough to catch the eye of a touring band called AC/DC.News_Image_File: Lee Morgan, who was involved in a car accident 40 years ago which seriously injured the late Bon Scott, former front man of iconic Aussie rock band AC/DC ... Picture: Phil Williams

The accident however is a painful reminder for Mr Morgan who says the crash changed his life For decades he’s kept these details to himself but says now is the right time to share his story with the world.

“It’s time to share the facts from the other side,” he explained.

“Accidents like these have huge implications and can change your life. Then and there I decided I would do things a little differently. You never know what is coming around the corner.

“Back then the keep left signs were higher and it either obscured the headlight of his bike or he didn’t have them on ... I felt terrible.”News_Image_File: AC/DC with Bon Scott, kneeling, in an undated photo.

Later that year Mr Morgan managed to see Scott front AC/DC at the Largs Pier Hotel, which he described as a magical performance — but it wasn’t the last time Scott would come into his life.

“In 1977 I got sent a writ for $20,000 for restriction on stage due to his injuries,” Mr Morgan said.

“I don’t know what happened with that though — I handed that straight to the insurance company,” he said.

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