Local man charged after crashing into a pond that tragically resulted in the death of a child in Lawrence County.

An update to the tragic wreck that took Sunday evening when Lawrence County Emergency personnel responded to Napier Road.

Now 40-year-old Howard Watkins is charged with vehicular homicide and according District Attorney Brent Cooper, "This is an extremely tragic situation.
Although there was ample evidence to proceed with charges, we will await the autopsy, blood test report, and the accident reconstruction report, to see if those charges need to be amended or if other charges apply.Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members and those who responded to this tragic scene."

A dive team was called to the scene.where Investigators say Watkins was behind the wheel with an infant in an unsecured car seat when the vehicle went into the water with Watkins making it out safely.

The infant was thrown from the vehicle while still strapped in the car seat and ended up in the water with the baby sadly dying at the scene.

The child's mother reports that Watkins is her boyfriend, and his 2nd birthday was just last week.

We continue to pray for this family and all emergency personnel that responded to this call.