Driver killed when Miley Cyrus tour bus overturns on I-85
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
The tour bus that overturned was one of four headed to the next Miley Cyrus concert in Greensboro, N.C., officials said.
Published: November 20, 2009
Updated: November 20, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. — A Miley Cyrus tour bus overturned on southbound Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County today, killing the driver, Virginia State Police said. Cyrus was not aboard the bus, which was one of four traveling in a caravan to the pop star’s next concert in Greensboro, N.C.
The bus was carrying nine members of the tour’s lighting crew when it wrecked about 8:15 a.m. One person suffered a broken nose and was taken to Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg.
The bus had left early today from Nassau, N.Y., where Cyrus performed the last two nights.
Police could not immediately explain why the bus wrecked near mile marker 55. The driver ran off the side of the road, and the bus turned on its right side in an inclined area. Officials do not believe that speed or road conditions were a factor in the wreck.
The driver was identified this afternoon as William G. Douglas, 53, of Austin, Texas.
On its Web site, the Cyrus family released this statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bill “Uncle Bill” Douglas. Members of our tour are like members of our family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family in the midst of this tragedy. He will truly be missed.”
The injured person was Marty Zilio, 48, of Canada.
Officials said most of the passengers were asleep at the time of the crash. They were able to escape from the overturned bus by crawling through the front windshield.
The bus was hauled up by a wrecker shortly before noon. Tour members were to rejoin the caravan at the next exit and continue to North Carolina.
Cyrus was traveling separately from the buses, police added.
All lanes of the interstate reopened about 1 p.m., the Virginia Department of Transportation said.
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Reader Reactions
Who cares how long the road or how inconvenienced anyone was? A precious life was lost here. From the news accounts I have heard, he had a heart attack. I doubt that anyone on that bus could have predicted it including Bill himself. So far as professional drivers being involved in the most accidents on the road… lets see I spend about an hour a day driving in my car to and from work. That’s only about 10% of my work week. A professional driver spends 100% of his/her work week driving. I am not a mathematician, but I would say they odds of a professional driver being involved in an accident are far greater than miy own. This was just a tragic event and thankfully more lives weren’t lost.
Forty years ago, two cops could have cleaned-up an accident like this in a couple of hours. However, they didn’t have to spend as much time gathering detailed, minute facts about what happened in order give some ambulance chasing lawyer a day in court. The details are what makes or breaks a case. The time police spend on investigating ultimately will determine what happens in the case and we all benefit when insurance companies don’t have to pay for the stupid stuff that people and their lawyers come up with.
Very sad indeed. But this is no time to point fingers at “commercial” drivers for causing accidents.
Commercial drivers are better trained then you and I. They are safer drivers then you and I. And they have much more to loose than you and I for even a minor traffic infraction.
I recall a NASCAR driver responding to a question about being afraid while racing. He replied when he is on a track all of the other drivers are professionals. He has no fear. His fear is on the open road where most of the drivers are not professionals.
I suspect “Jay” is more of a threat on the road then a large majority of commercial drivers.
Uncle Bill and Family, You will be truly missed. You where a wonderful person with a big heart. We hated to loose you in the Nascar World now we hate to loose you in the “Real World” Our hearts, thoughts and prayers goes to your family and friends that love you dearly. Thanks for the memories.
Cheers!
God Speed.
Your Family in the Nascar World!
Posted by blackbeered on November 20, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Okay, it’s tragic.
But FIVE hours to clear an accident ... in daylight and clear conditions? And I’ll bet there were AT LEAST five police cars and AT LEAST a half dozen cops standing around on this “hazardous” detail.
Why, forty years ago, would this have been cleared in under two hours by a couple of cops?
I think your dreaming or smoking crack my friend
I first met Bill Douglas when working for Mitchell Coach Mfg Co aka Vogue by Mitchell, Pryor, OK. Bill’s nickname is “ Uncle Bill “. He transported coaches for this company from event to event. “ Uncle Bill “ left Vogue by Mitchell to become the coach operator for NASCAR driver: Bill Elliott of Dawsonville, GA. I saw “ Uncle Bill “ a couple years ago when working for Featherlite Luxury Coaches in Sanford, FL. Bill was then driving for some NASCAR driver in the Craftsmen Truck Series. I remember “ Uncle Bill “ as being: very courteous, very polite, very helpful ~ a TRUE TEXAN gentleman!
I am so sorry to learn of this accident and to all the drivers inconvenienced by the accident. Of all the years I knew “ Uncle Bill “ he was accident free and took special care of the coach he operated. To William G. “Bill” ~ “Uncle Bill” Douglas family - I am so sorry to learn of his death. I thank our God everywhere that no one was seriously injured - this accident sure have been much much more serious / fatal.
blackbeered- they aren’t just clearing a routine accident. A death occurred, injuries, a bus had to be righted and towed. All of the stuff on board probably had to be taken off and loaded onto another bus or something.
Okay, it’s tragic.
But FIVE hours to clear an accident ... in daylight and clear conditions? And I’ll bet there were AT LEAST five police cars and AT LEAST a half dozen cops standing around on this “hazardous” detail.
Why, forty years ago, would this have been cleared in under two hours by a couple of cops?
Thank you mech64 for the info. Our prayers are with all involved
I heard on the radio that they said indeed the driver did have a heart attack and he actually saved many lives by the way he dealt with the bus before it crashed because it could have been worse.
If the worst thing that happened to the passengers was a broken nose, then I’d have to say the driver had a heart attack. That wreck was not violent enough to kill the driver, if the rest walked away.
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