Abington Accident Will Go to Trial

    The September 9, 2011 traffic accident that claimed the life of 16 year old Phillip Abington of Central serves as a poignant example of how many lives can be forever changed in a moment.  A group of almost fifty Central friends and family of Phillip were in attendance at the hearing of James Watts III of Denham Springs, the driver whose 2005 Chevrolet pickup struck Abington's 2001 Honda Civic on Greenwell Springs Road here in Central.  At the hearing the judge sent the case to trial.  Watts was found to have a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit at the time of the crash and was estimated to have been travelling almost twice the 45 mile per hour speed limit.  Watts was initially arrested and charged with Reckless Operation.  Many of those who came out to support the Abington family were young Central community members and that is sobering evidence of the far reaching impact of poor driving decisions not only on the victim, but on family, friends, and an entire community.  Driving the speed limit and never driving under the influence are the starting points for respecting the lives of others that share the roads.