Abbeville, AL – The Abbeville community is mourning the sudden loss of 51-year-old Jerry P. Watford, who tragically died in a single-vehicle crash Monday morning along U.S. Highway 331 at the intersection of Covington County Road 38.
According to the Opp Police Department, emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 11:13 a.m. after reports that a vehicle had gone through a guardrail and into a nearby lake. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a log truck carrying timber had left the roadway, breached the guardrail, and become partially submerged in the water.
Despite the swift response of the Opp Police Department and Opp Fire Department, Mr. Watford, the driver of the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary reports indicate that the log truck was traveling west on County Road 38 when it veered off the road, struck the guardrail, and entered the lake. Recovery efforts required several hours and temporarily closed a portion of Highway 331, though the roadway has since been reopened by the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Opp Police Department extended deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Mr. Watford during this difficult time.
Jerry Watford is remembered by his community as a hardworking, kind-hearted man, dedicated to his profession and to the people he cared about. His sudden passing leaves a profound void for those who knew him, but his legacy of generosity, diligence, and warmth will continue to resonate.
May his memory live on through the lives he touched and the love he shared.