Local Football Star Remembered After Tragic Accident

Former Northridge High School and current Huntington College football player James E. Owens Jr. is one of two people who died in a two-car crash in Chilton County Monday morning. The tragic accident reported by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) took place around 5:35 a.m. yesterday on U.S. 82, about two miles west of Maplesville in western Chilton County.

Owens died when the car he was driving collided with a truck driven by 42-year-old Justin E. Carlee of Maplesville. Both Owens and Carlee were pronounced dead at the scene.

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The Trooper accident report states Owens was driving a Chevrolet Camaro when it struck a Toyota Tundra head-on. The circumstances of the crash on the two-lane roadway remain under investigation.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Owens was a junior defensive lineman for Huntington, which is located in Montgomery. According to team statistics he had recorded 12 tackles in six games this season. During his three seasons with the Hawks, he tallied 20 total tackles in 13 games.

On the team's website Owen's is described as, "...a great representative of our college on and off the field. Throughout his time as a Hawk, James carried himself at the utmost standard of respect, integrity, and kindness.

"Of everyone I've baptized- James stands as the most abundantly assured person," shared Huntingdon College Chaplain and Dean of the Chapel, Rhett Butler, who recently baptized James following a football practice at Charles Lee Field. "He knew Jesus, loved Jesus, and was insistent on taking the next step of his faith in his baptism. He originally didn't want to do it in front of a bunch of folks but changed his mind when he realized what a witness his own faith was for the faith of others."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with James' family, his teammates, classmates, and all of those who were blessed to know him."

Funeral services are still pending.