ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL – A 55-year-old man from Lillian, Alabama, was killed in a head-on collision on Lillian Highway in the early morning hours of Friday, May 9, 2025. The driver of the other vehicle, 20-year-old Wyatt Watson of Orange Beach, Alabama, has been arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred near the intersection of Lillian Highway and Halcyon Circle. According to the initial investigation, Watson was driving a sport utility vehicle (SUV) when it veered into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with the vehicle driven by the Lillian man.

Emergency responders pronounced the 55-year-old victim dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been publicly released, pending notification of next of kin.

Watson was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and was subsequently booked into the Escambia County Jail.

The unusual string of characters, “Krspglva2xf8!Troopers,” included in the initial report appears to be an anomaly with no connection to the incident. Authorities have not provided any explanation for its inclusion.

The investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing.