What can be more relaxing and fun-filled than a family cruise? Unfortunately for one Alabama family, their dream vacation ended in tragedy.
On Thursday morning, an Alabama football coach and his son were killed in a Florida crash.
Stacy Watters, 38, pulled out in front of a box truck and the truck could not stop and crashed into his car, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
Both Watters and his son Quentin died at the scene. His 9-year-old son, Jai, suffered critical injuries in the collision. He was taken to an Orlando hospital where family members, who were following in another vehicle as the whole family had just returned from a cruise, followed the ambulance to the hospital. The driver of the box truck was not injured in the crash.
Carroll was hired as a physical education teacher last spring at Carroll High School in Ozark, Alabama. He also coached football at the high school. He was remembered by his players as an inspiration. As a tribute, the football players planned to wear their jerseys under their graduation gowns Thursday night.
Defensive tackle CJ Stapleton told the Dothan Eagle, that his coach pushed for me to be on scholarship now at Grambling. He said never back down and never finish second.
Another of Watter's players, wide receiver Kevin White, said that Watters pushed him to achieve and became a father figure to him. White said that Watter’s said he’d be successful and that he’s headed off soon to the University of South Alabama to study electrical engineering.
Mike Lenhart, Ozark School Superintendent, said plans for a memorial will be announced later.