Chi Cheng, Deftones bassist, dead at 42

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A candlelight vigil is planned for Chi Cheng, the bassist of the Grammy-winning rock band Deftones who died after struggling to recover from serious injuries suffered in a car crash more than four years ago.

The Sacramento Bee reports the 42-year-old Cheng died early Saturday.

Cheng's mother, Jeanne Marie Cheng, wrote on the One Love for Chi website that her son was taken to an emergency room when his heart stopped.

Cheng was thrown from a car that collided head-on with another vehicle on Nov. 4, 2008, in Santa Clara.

The newspaper says Cheng had been in a coma, but had recently shown some signs of improvement.

Cheng played on five albums by the Sacramento-based Deftones.

A candlelight vigil was planned for Sunday evening at Sacramento's Cesar Chavez Plaza.

-- AP