A Tennessee car accident claimed the life of “American Idol” runner-up Willie Spence, but his loved ones don’t believe alcohol was a factor in his death. Instead, they blame something he did over the weekend.
Willie Spence, an American singer, lived from June 18, 1999, until his death on October 11, 2022. At the tender age of 22, he placed second on Season 19 of American Idol.
Spence’s parents moved the family from West Palm Beach, Florida to Douglas, Georgia when he was a baby, so he spent his formative years there.
According to TMZ’s family sources,… Some have speculated that Willie was driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred, but his family has stated that he was not a drinker. The tragedy occurred as American Idol‘s Willie was leaving Tennessee State University’s homecoming weekend.
The fact that the incident occurred during the day rather than the late hours of the night is another piece of evidence suggesting he was not driving home from a wild night out.
It was a long weekend for Willie, which may have left him extremely tired, and his loved ones are worried that he nodded off behind the wheel.
No official explanation for the crash or his death has been provided by the police. Willie had told his mother the day before the fatal accident that he was going back to Atlanta to meet with an organization that helps abused and trafficked women to discuss a partnership. According to family members, they are planning a funeral service in his honor and will launch a GoFundMe to raise money for the service.