Birmingham Woman Arrested For 2016 Homicide

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A Birmingham woman has now officially been charged with murder for her role in a fatal car crash last year that resulted in the death of another woman. On May 23, 2016, at about 9:00 pm deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle traffic accident in the 5900 block of Snowville-Brent Road in western Jefferson County. They arrived to find a 2005 Chevrolet pickup in a ditch. The driver of the truck later identified as Rebecca Ann Watson suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital. The passenger - 56-year-old Tammy Gail Marie Bernard - suffered life-threatening injuries and was unconscious. She was taken to an area hospital where she died June 1.

Information on the scene indicated that the driver had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Sheriff’s detectives conducted an investigation that included requesting medical records and toxicology from blood drawn following the accident. The information took several months to compile. Detectives completed their investigation and presented their findings to the District Attorney’s Office in May of 2017. An arrest warrant was issued charging Watson with murder. Watson had left the state of Alabama. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

Watson was arrested in Orange County North Carolina earlier this week for the outstanding warrant and returned to Jefferson County this morning. She remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $30,000.

Photo from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office