Former Congressman Wes Watkins could face charges stemming from a fatal Payne County traffic accident

A former congressman will likely face misdemeanor charges after he was involved in an accident that killed a Stillwater couple. <br><br>Former 3rd District Congressman Wes Watkins hit a car that had stopped

Tuesday, April 20th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A former congressman will likely face misdemeanor charges after he was involved in an accident that killed a Stillwater couple.

Former 3rd District Congressman Wes Watkins hit a car that had stopped on Highway 177 in Stillwater. It happened just before 9 AM Monday.

News on 6 reporter Patrina Adger says she talked with Wes Watkins and he says his heart and prayers go out to the family who lost loved ones in this tragedy. Watkins says he was on his way to a meeting in Perkins when the accident happened.

34 year old Brian Cullen and his wife Ardith were with their two children driving south on Highway 177 when they stopped to make a left turn. Watkins was driving behind them going south. He apparently tried to go around the Cullen's car, but instead Watkins clipped the back of their car, pushing them into oncoming traffic.

A tractor trailer hit the car and spun it around and a red Chevy car slammed into the passenger side of their car, killing the couple instantly. Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Andrew Hamilton says Watkins appeared visibly shaken.

He says Watkins was not speeding or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He wasn't given a citation, but a Payne County DA says its likely Watkins will be charged with negligent homicide. Trooper Hamilton: "In an instance where someone is killed and there could be a chargeable offense like inattentive driving-They look at those and make a determination whether or not they will file charges."

If charges are filed, it would carry a maximum of one year in jail. The two children in the car survived the accident.

The couple leave behind a total of five children, three were at school at the time of the accident. Watkins served 14 years in Congress from 1977 to 1990, before retiring in 2001.

The OHP says there have been a number of collisions on this stretch of highway near Stillwater, and ironically, Watkins was on a committee to widen that road from two lanes to four.