A Livingston County man facing 2nd degree murder charges in a fatal traffic crash has entered a plea.

20-year-old Jordan Watson of Howell is accused of being intoxicated when he drove into two Waterford Township homes on October 9th on 2016 with four other people in the vehicle. One of those passengers, 19-year-old Gage Remsberg of Highland Township, remained hospitalized until his death two months later. Authorities then charged Watson with 2nd degree murder as well as eight other counts including OWI causing death and serious injury and OWI with a suspended license causing death and serious injury.

On January 11th he entered a no contest plea to the charges. But two weeks later his attorney filed a motion to withdraw that plea saying Watson was like a “deer caught in the headlights” and unable to think logically when he made the plea and could not comprehend that he was charged with 2nd degree murder. On Wednesday, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge James Alexander denied the motion. Sentencing is set for February 14th.

Authorities said Watson was traveling south on Scott Lake Road in excess of 90 mph, when his vehicle crashed through the attached garage of an unoccupied home and into the side of an adjacent home. Watson reportedly had a blood-alcohol content of 0.32% at the time of the crash, four times the legal driving limit.

Also charged in the case is 18-year-old Sophia Buttazzoni of Commerce Township who was a passenger in the vehicle. Police say the car in question belonged to her father, but she had legal control over it that night and is accused of knowingly allowing Watson to drive while he was intoxicated. Buttazzoni is set to go to trial March 22nd. (JK)