The longtime pastor of a large Alabama church congregation was killed Thursday morning in a traffic accident, church and investigators confirmed.

The Rev. Harry Reeder III, senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church was killed in a wreck on Dunnavant Valley Road at approximately 10 a.m. in Shelby County.

Investigators said Reeder’s vehicle collided with the back of a dump truck which had stopped to make a turn.

The 75-year-old Reeder was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Reeder became pastor of the now mega church in 1999 when Briarwood founder the Rev. Frank Baker retired.

Briarwood reportedly has approximately 4,000

Briarwood’s executive pastor, the Rev. Bruce Stallings released this statement on social media:

Dear Congregation,
It is with a deeply heavy heart that I communicate to you that our Lord has called Pastor Reeder home through a car accident. Please pray for Cindy, Jennifer, Ike, Abby and their entire family as well as our staff and church family as we all grieve this tremendous loss together.

But we do not grieve without hope because we know our pastor is with His Savior and has been received by grace with –

“Well done My good and faithful servant.”

In Christ our Lord!
Bruce Stallings