Hueytown Police Identify Driver of Tow Truck That Crashed into Home

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Authorities continue to gather information after a crash early Wednesday morning left a man dead in Hueytown.

The Hueytown Police Department responded to a call at 3:20 a.m. regarding a tow truck that collided with a home in the 200 block of Forest Road.

No one was injured inside the home, but the driver of the tow truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office later identified him as Franklin Eugene McMillin, 56.

McMillin worked for Classic Towing and Recovery in Hueytown and was towing a vehicle at the time of the crash. Video taken by CBS 42's crew at the scene shows a silver pickup truck still attached to the truck's trailer.

It will be weeks before investigators know whether McMillin suffered a medical emergency before the crash.

Jatari Lenoir lived with his sister and mother in the home. He is extremely grateful that no one was injured in the accident itself, but he will continue to pray for McMillin's family.

“(My sister) sleeps at the window right here, so if the truck had hit a little higher, it probably would have hit her in her bed while she was sleeping,” Lenoir said.

The house, built by Lenoir's grandfather, is currently condemned to death due to the damage. He hopes that insurance will cover the repairs, but he knows that life is worth more than material possessions.

“We can rebuild,” he said. “We can fix all this, but we can't go back to normal and I feel sad for the family.”

The American Red Cross is working with Lenoir's family to provide them with a hotel room to stay during this time.