Rising country music sensation and former “American Idol” Season 19 contestant, Alex Miller, was involved in a tragic accident in Kentucky on Tuesday. A car crashed into a bus carrying Miller and several band members, resulting in the death of the car’s driver, 53-year-old James Mcpheron of Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
The unfortunate incident occurred as Miller and his band were returning from a vacation. A statement released on Miller’s Instagram account on Wednesday confirmed the accident and expressed condolences to the deceased driver’s family. It also clarified that no one on the bus was injured during the incident. The Kentucky State Police are currently investigating the accident.
Miller’s manager, in a conversation with People, described the accident as “very unfortunate” and expressed Miller’s deep regret over the driver’s death. The manager also confirmed that Miller and his band were in Daytona Beach, Florida, prior to the accident.
The Kentucky State Police released a detailed statement about the incident. According to their report, the accident occurred around 10:28 pm on South Wildness Road in Rockcastle County. Mcpheron, driving a 2004 Toyota Rav4, lost control of his vehicle and veered into the path of the tour bus driven by Roger D. Miller, 43, of Lancaster, Kentucky.
The report further stated that Mcpheron was transported to the Rockcastle Regional Hospital by Rockcastle EMS, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by the Rockcastle County Coroner. The authorities, with the assistance of several other agencies, are still investigating the accident and have not filed any charges yet.
Just a day before the accident, Miller had teased new music on his social media page. The Kentucky native, who gained fame after his appearance on the 19th season of “American Idol” in 2021, had posted about a new song titled “Oh Odessa” set to release the next day.
During his stint on “American Idol,” Miller had won over judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry with his rendition of “Freeborn Man” by Jimmy Martin. Despite not making it to the Top 24, Miller’s popularity soared, paving the way for his successful country music career.