By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Two Maplesville High School students, one of whom recently committed to play football at Mississippi State University, were arrested on Feb. 16 by Maplesville Police in relation to a traffic accident on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. on Alabama Highway 139.

Senior Nathaniel Watson Jr. has been charged with assault first degree, which is a felony, and numerous traffic violations.

Senior Tyrone Davis was arrested for reckless endangerment and numerous traffic violations.

“The accident occurred after Tyrone Davis, also a student at MHS, lined up in front of the school with his vehicle along with Nathaniel Watson’s vehicle for a race, witnesses stated that they lined up side by side and floored it, and both vehicles were squalling their tires and fishtailing up the highway heading into town,” according to an MPD press release. “As the racing vehicles topped a hill, an oncoming car caused Nathaniel Watson Jr. to swerve and lose control striking a power pole, cutting it in half and knocking power out to portions of Maplesville.”

Both drivers had a passenger in the car. The passenger of Watson’s Chevy Impala, another Maplesville student, “had a crushed femur, fractured pelvis, his right arm broken and internal injuries. He was airlifted to UAB for treatment.”

The passenger of Davis’ Ford Edge was reported to be 12 years old.

According to a MPD press release, neither of the drivers’ vehicles were insured.

Watson had recently signed to play football at Mississippi State University.

Davis will be tried in Maplesville Court, while Watson will be tried at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Court dates have not been set yet.