Robert Lewis Burns Jr, otherwise known as 'Bob', the original drummer for the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away due to a car crash last Friday night, according to a Georgia State Patrol spokesman via CNN News.

Burns was 64 years old.

The former drummer died after his vehicle struck a mailbox and a tree in Cartersville, according to spokesman James Tallent. 

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There were no other vehicles involved in the crash and the accident occurred at midnight.

"He was not restrained at the time of the crash," said Tallent, in an interview with CNN.

Burns was a part of the band that created their owned genre and would go on to create rock anthems such as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Freebird".

In 1965, they formed a band in Jacksonville, Florida.

Frontman Ronnie Van Zant began 'Noble Five' with Burns, guitarists Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and bassist Larry Junstrom. The name of the band was eventually changed in reference of a gym school teacher in their hometown.

The band changed its roster of members through the years and Burns left the band before the third studio album, 'Nuthin Fancy' was released in 1975 due to exhaustion from touring, according to the band's Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Biography.

Burns and frontman Van Zant were not involved in the 1977 plane crash, which killed three members.

Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006. The band still tours today with Rossington, the only original member left in the band.

"Today I'm at a loss for words but I just remember Bob being a funny guy. My heart goes out to his family and God bless him and them in this sad time. He was a great great drummer," said Rossington, through the band's official Facebook page.

                                                                                     

TagsRobert Bob Burns, drummer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dies, 64