Following the Edge of Thorns Tour, while away in 1993, his bandmate Criss Oliva was driving with his wife, Dawn, on their way to the Fourth Annual Livestock Festival held in Zephyrhills, Florida.
An oncoming car operated by a drunk driver crossed the median and struck Oliva's 1982 Mazda RX-7 head-on, killing him instantly.
After this, Wacholz decided not to return to Savatage citing Oliva's death as his reason to retire from the band.
"My choice NOT to be in SAVATAGE today has something to do with his passing...it will never be the same... it can never be the same...but his music lives on thru his brother & Chris Caffery who has the essence of Criss in him.
Currently, Wacholz is a member of the band Reverence which also includes ex Tokyo Blade guitarist Bryan Holland.