| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1276 | 2011-11-26 | Troop A | Denham Springs Man Arrested for Vehicular Homicide from September Crash |
TROOP A - NEWS RELEASE ** Update: November 26, 2011** Troopers arrested James T. Watts III on Thursday, November 24, 2011 after receiving blood test results from the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Blood analysis results indicated that Watts’ blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit at the time of the crash that killed a teenager on September 9. Troopers have charged Watts with Vehicular Homicide and booked him into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. If convicted, he faces up to thirty years in prison. Impaired drivers cause serious injuries and deaths across the country every day through their poor decisions. There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel of a vehicle impaired. The effect that this poor decision has is not limited to the person making the decision. The people involved in the crash, their families, their friends, and first responders are all affected negatively by the decision that one person makes. Troopers will continue to push to end impaired driving through an aggressive education and enforcement campaign throughout the state. If you would like to have a Trooper speak at an event (safety meeting, school event, civic group, etc...), please contact your local Public Information Officer for information. Louisiana State Police also has programs in place across the state dedicated to end impaired and distracted driving. **Update: September 11, 2011** Following the initial on-scene investigation of the crash, Troopers began looking more closely into the physical evidence of the crash and inconsistencies in statements. Through the continued investigation, Troopers were able to determine that Watts was traveling at a high rate of speed (double the 45 mph speed limit) when the crash occurred. This high rate of speed was determined to have been a factor in the crash. Troopers arrested Watts and booked him into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of reckless operation and not wearing a seatbelt. Additional charges may be forthcoming.September 9, 2011 Teenager Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash Central – Louisiana State Police Troop A began investigating a fatal crash this evening shortly before 6:00 pm on LA 37 (Greenwell Springs Road) south of LA 408 (Hooper Road). Troopers are still on the scene of the crash and the investigation is on-going. Troopers’ preliminary investigation revealed that Phillip Abington (W/M, age 16) of Greenwell Springs was driving a 2001 Honda Civic on Will Avenue when he attempted to make a left turn onto LA 37 northbound and pulled into the path of an on-coming 2005 Chevrolet pickup. The pickup, being driven by James Watts III (W/M, age 31) of Denham Springs, struck the passenger side of the Honda and ran off the road to the left. The Honda was pushed off the road and came to rest in the ditch along the east edge of the roadway. The pickup struck a tree on the west edge of the roadway and overturned, coming to rest on the driver door. The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office pronounced Abington deceased on the scene. Watts sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Troopers do not suspect alcohol to have played a factor in the crash; however, they have submitted samples of both drivers’ blood to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis. The crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time. Troopers would like to remind the motoring public to remain vigilant while driving on the roadways. When pulling out from side roads and private drives, it is very important to see a clear roadway before proceeding. Drivers should never pull into a travel lane unless they are certain that the lane is clear of on-coming traffic. If there is an obstructed view, drivers should remain stationary until the obstruction is cleared. Motorists can call *LSP (*577) to report roadway hazards, dangerous conditions, or unsafe drivers. Contact Information: TFC Russell G. Graham II | |||
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