A quiet Friday morning in Millbrook turned into a scene of destruction and heartbreak after a pickup truck crashed through a church and slammed into a nearby business, leaving a local man dead.
Police and fire rescue crews rushed to the 4100 block of Highway 14 around 5:40 a.m. after reports of a violent crash near Living Word Church. By the time first responders arrived, the damage stretched across multiple properties and debris was scattered throughout the area.
Authorities said a Ford F-150 driven by 54-year-old Cedric Langford tore through the front of Living Word Church before bursting out the back side of the building. The truck then struck a truck trailer and continued moving until it crashed into Hometown Small Motors, where it finally came to a stop.
Investigators said the impact caused major structural damage. Parts of the church building were left shattered, while the nearby business also suffered heavy damage from the collision. The normally calm stretch of Highway 14 quickly filled with emergency crews trying to secure the scene.
Langford, who was from Millbrook, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said preliminary information suggests he may have suffered a medical emergency moments before the crash happened. Authorities believe that could explain why the truck continued moving through several structures without stopping.
His body was later turned over to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy. Investigators are expected to use the results to determine exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the deadly crash.
People in the community were left shaken by the unusual and tragic chain of events. Residents described the crash site as devastating, especially seeing a church and local business heavily damaged in the early morning hours. Many said the loss of life made the situation even harder to process.
Officials say the investigation is still ongoing as crews continue assessing the damage left behind. For now, the Millbrook community is mourning the sudden death of a local man after a terrifying crash that tore through the heart of town.
