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.
@ Kellysd
Might want to look into that. She's got zero control.
