Original Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Bob Burns was killed in a car accident last night in Cartersville, GA. He was 64 years old.

According to Patch, Burns crashed into a mailbox and a tree after veering of the road while approaching right curve at around 11:56pm. He was the only person in the vehicle and was not wearing a seatbelt. Officials were also trying to determine if weather played a role in the accident.

Burns helped found Lynyrd Skynyrd with Gary Rossington and Larry Junstrom in 1964. He played on the band’s earliest recordings, as well as their first first two official albums, Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd and Second Helping. His drumming can be heard the classic tracks “Free Bird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “The Ballad of Curtiz Loew,” “Simple Man” and “Gimme Three Steps,” among many others.

Burns left Lynyrd Skynyrd after his mental health took a bad turn following the band’s 1974 European tour. He was eventually diagnozed with bipolar disorder, and Artemis Pyle took over drums for the group’s third album Nuthin’ Fancy. Burns later joined the band for one more night when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.