Victim’s name released in crash involving firetruck

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man who died in a crash involving a firetruck.

Deputies said Franklin Dale Crouch, 46, of Charleston, died when the car he was driving across US Route 119 from Childress Road collided with a South Charleston Fire Department truck Thursday afternoon.

Investigators said the firetruck was driving north to a call with three firefighters on board. Lights and sirens were activated as the truck approached the intersection, according to deputies.

Two firefighters were treated and released from a hospital, while a third firefighter remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition.

Erica Huffman said she saw the crash happen from the window where she works.

“I saw the white car trying to go across the intersection while the fire truck was trying to go across. It just got bad after that,” Huffman said. “ Yelled back into the coworker to call 911 and I immediately took off running across the road. As horrifying as it was, that is all I can describe it as horrifying. And it was not just what I seen; it was the screams that I heard.”

South Charleston Fire Chief Virgil White said two of the injured firefighters were discharged from the hospital Thursday night while the third firefighter is in critical but stable condition.

“He does have significant injuries and he is going to have several surgeries,” White said. “It is very tragic. I feel for the family. My prayers go out to them a very sad event.”

Huffman said she drove home in silence Thursday evening.

“Just prayers to the family and all that are involved and a huge shoutout to the local firefighters that go out and risk their life everyday,” Huffman said.

White said the department will use a spare fire truck until they are able to get a new one.

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