Matthew Scott Sartin

On a late Friday night in the summer of 2020, a young man from Louisiana lost his life on an Alabama interstate, the tragic result of a hit-and-run crash. Matthew Scott Sartin, a 22-year-old White man from Pineville, Louisiana, was a beloved son and friend whose life was cut short. He was remembered by loved ones for his infectious smile, his kind and loving heart, and his passion for riding his motorcycle. His family recalled his ability to light up any room he entered and the deep loyalty he had for his friends, whom he considered family.

The fatal collision occurred around 11:50 p.m. on June 26, 2020. Matthew was riding his 2000 BMW 1200 motorcycle southbound on Interstate 59/20 near Bessemer in Jefferson County, at mile marker 102. He was struck by another vehicle that did not stop. First responders arrived at the scene, but Matthew’s injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at 1:04 a.m.

The investigation into the hit-and-run was handled by Alabama State Troopers. A crucial piece of evidence was discovered about two miles south of the crash site: a disabled and abandoned 2009 BMW 750 sedan. Investigators traced the ownership of the car to Franklin Nelson Edwards, 55, who was the assistant fire chief and a former interim fire chief for the city of Selma, Alabama. Edwards was arrested and charged in connection with Matthew's death.

The case proceeded to a jury trial in the Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Courthouse. During the trial, Edwards' defense attorney argued that Matthew had caused the accident by being distracted while on a video call and playing a video game. The defense also claimed that Edwards had suffered a severe concussion and memory loss in the wreck, which affected his ability to recall the events of that night. Prosecutors presented their case, and in March 2025, the jury delivered a mixed verdict. They found Franklin Edwards not guilty of the more serious charge of manslaughter. However, they convicted him of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or injury, a Class C felony.

Following the conviction, Edwards was sentenced. A judge initially ordered him to serve three years of a 10-year prison sentence. This was later amended, and Edwards was re-sentenced to 10 years in prison with two years to serve, followed by two years of probation. His attorney argued that the sentence was unreasonable for a non-violent offense committed by a lifelong public servant, but the judge denied requests for a lesser sentence.

Edwards appealed his conviction and sentence to the Alabama Court of Appeals and was released on an appeal bond with electronic monitoring while the case was under review. The higher court ultimately affirmed the conviction, and Edwards' subsequent application for a rehearing was also denied. In September 2026, after losing his appeal, Franklin Nelson Edwards was booked back into the Jefferson County Jail to await transfer to the Alabama Department of Corrections to begin serving his prison sentence. The case is now considered closed with his conviction and failed appeal.