I was a Kentucky State Trooper and back in the late 1980's one night on I-71 about 2:30 am the Osbourne Brothers bus ran out of diesel fuel while going up a hill and around a curve. Bobby was driving and he managed to get the bus almost into the emergency lane, but the back end of the bus was out in the road. His brother, Sonny, hitched a ride to a truck stop, purchased some diesel fuel, but could not find anyone to return him to the bus. This is where the truck stop called the State Police. I was dispatched and on arrival was informed by Sonny of the situation. I told him no problem, I called of friend of mine that ran a truck repair shop, told him to get out of bed, come to the truck stop, pick up the guy with the diesel fuel, and in the meantime I would go to the bus and work point control to keep someone from hitting it. At the time Sonny did not tell me who he was and when I arrived at the bus Bobby did not tell me who they were. I just thought they were just some guys traveling around in a bus and ran out of fuel. Both Sonny and Bobby were dressed in old blue denim overalls and t-shirts. As a matter of fact the bus was several years old and not fancy at all. When my friend arrived with Sonny and the diesel fuel he refilled the fuel filters on the engine, put the fuel in fuel tank for them and made sure the bus started. While Sonny was getting the money to pay my friend, my friend asked me if I knew who they were and I told him, "No". That is when my friend told me Sonny had told him who they were on the ride from the truck stop. He said Sonny thanked him, and said he had never seen a State Trooper just call up some guy, tell him to get out of bed, and come to a truck stop to pick up a stranger for a service run. Sonny and Bobby both were a couple of nice guys and had a good sense of humor. Before everyone parted ways Sonny gave both of us copies of their latest cassette tapes and thanked us. About 2 months later my friend was watching a TBS television show that had the Osborne Brothers on it. Sonny talked about running out of fuel in the middle of the night in Kentucky, and said a State Trooper and a guy that runs a truck repair shop really helped them out.
I was a Kentucky State Trooper and back in the late 1980's one night on I-71 about 2:30 am the Osbourne Brothers bus ran out of diesel fuel while going up a hill and around a curve. Bobby was driving and he managed to get the bus almost into the emergency lane, but the back end of the bus was out in the road. His brother, Sonny, hitched a ride to a truck stop, purchased some diesel fuel, but could not find anyone to return him to the bus. This is where the truck stop called the State Police. I was dispatched and on arrival was informed by Sonny of the situation. I told him no problem, I called of friend of mine that ran a truck repair shop, told him to get out of bed, come to the truck stop, pick up the guy with the diesel fuel, and in the meantime I would go to the bus and work point control to keep someone from hitting it.
At the time Sonny did not tell me who he was and when I arrived at the bus Bobby did not tell me who they were. I just thought they were just some guys traveling around in a bus and ran out of fuel. Both Sonny and Bobby were dressed in old blue denim overalls and t-shirts. As a matter of fact the bus was several years old and not fancy at all. When my friend arrived with Sonny and the diesel fuel he refilled the fuel filters on the engine, put the fuel in fuel tank for them and made sure the bus started. While Sonny was getting the money to pay my friend, my friend asked me if I knew who they were and I told him, "No". That is when my friend told me Sonny had told him who they were on the ride from the truck stop. He said Sonny thanked him, and said he had never seen a State Trooper just call up some guy, tell him to get out of bed, and come to a truck stop to pick up a stranger for a service run. Sonny and Bobby both were a couple of nice guys and had a good sense of humor. Before everyone parted ways Sonny gave both of us copies of their latest cassette tapes and thanked us.
About 2 months later my friend was watching a TBS television show that had the Osborne Brothers on it. Sonny talked about running out of fuel in the middle of the night in Kentucky, and said a State Trooper and a guy that runs a truck repair shop really helped them out.
R.I.P Bobby Osborne
Sunrise 1931/Sunset 2023
Condolences to the family and friends. Prayers for family and friends. ❤❤
Rip Bobby Van Osborne, you will be missed
Condolences to the family