Singer Willie Spence, best known as a runner-up finalist on Season 19 of AMERICAN IDOL, died in a car crash on Oct. 11. He was 23.

DouglasNow, a local Tennessee news station, first reported that the Douglas, Tennessee native was killed after a motor vehicle accident.

Fellow AMERICAN IDOL alum Katharine McPhee confirmed the news on her Instagram Story, which included a video of her and Spence together.

“I received very tragic news tonight,” McPhee wrote in the caption. “Sweet @williespenceofficial passed away in a car accident. Only 23 years old. Life is so unfair and nothing is ever promised. God rest your soul Willie. It was a pleasure to sing with you and to know you.”

McPhee wrote in a later comment on his Instagram: “Sweet Willie… you deserved the stars and the moon. I’m so sorry for the world to be robbed of more precious time with you. You were an absolute Angel. I know you are up there now with the rest of the angels. God rest your soul. For now I’m 💔”

FOX31 reported: “Preliminary findings say that Spence’s Jeep Cherokee left the roadway around 4 p.m. and collided into the back of the tractor trailer.”

The news outlet also noted that Spence had fixed a flat tire on his Jeep earlier in the day on that same Tuesday.

Spence had posted a video of himself singing a worship song in the car just hours before the fatal accident.