ATLANTA, Ga. – The Georgia State Patrol says Robert Lewis Burns Jr. died in a single-car accident northwest of Atlanta late Friday night.
Troopers said Burns' car went off the road and hit a tree in Bartown County just before midnight.
Authorities say Burns, 64, was not wearing a seat belt.
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Burns was the original drummer with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Burns was with the Southern-rock band that formed in Jacksonville's Westside in 1964 for 10 years.
Burns performed on the band's first two official albums: Pronounced 'L?h-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd and Second Helping. According to reports, Burns became overwhelmed by life on the road and was replaced in 1974 by Artimus Pyle, three years before the plane crash that look the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, band members Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilot and co-pilot.
Burns rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd for one performance in March 2006 at the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
"Bob was quiet. Still a good drummer he played around in different bands and had a good time. Bob was a night owl. Up all night sleep during the day I loved him he was great," said Gene Odom a longtime friend and one time security guard for the Burns.
Skynyrd remains on tour, performing both Thursday and Friday nights at the Florida Theatre in concerts that featured complete performances of those first two albums that were recorded for future DVD release.