The driver of a Miley Cyrus tour bus was killed Friday when the bus overturned on a rural Virginia road, but the 16-year-old Hannah Montana star wasn’t on board, Virginia State Police said.

Sgt. Thomas Molnar says the bus was traveling along with three other buses (carrying members of Miley’s production crew ) southbound on Interstate I-85 just south of Petersburg, VA, when it ran off the left side of the road, struck an embankment, and overturned. The accident occurred around 8:15AM in Dinwiddie County, about 40 miles south of Richmond. Speed and weather weren’t considered factors.

The driver, William G. Douglas, 53, of Austin, Texas, died at the scene and The Cyrus Family is speaking out about the fatal accident and the driver they affectionately dubbed “Uncle Bill.”

“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 Cyrus family said in a statement posted on www.MileyCyrus.com Friday.