Robinson, Boykin killed in Sunday accident

A two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon claimed the life of two individuals. The crash occurred at 4:50 p.m. on U.S. 43 two miles south of Linden.  Anthony Robinson Jr., 19, of Linden was killed when the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer he was driving collided with a 2013 International driven by Leonard Essex of Demopolis.  Essex was injured and transported to Bryant Whitfield Hospital in Demopolis for treatment. Christopher Boykin, 12, of Demopolis was a passenger in Robinson’s and also was killed.  No additional details are available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate this crash.

Boykin was a seventh grader at Demopolis Middle School. Robinson was a 2013 graduate of Linden High School and a defensive back for the University of West Alabama.

“Anthony was a tremendous young man, always happy. He had that rare “it” factor that is difficult to explain, but very easy to see. People were drawn to Anthony and he to them. Very rarely does a freshman impact a team right away, but Anthony had already had a tremendous impact on our football team in a very short time,” UWA head football coach Will Hall said via a statement. “He was a great player, but an even better person. That is so painfully obvious by the way the entire town of Linden and our football team is hurting right now. “He embraced the AIE (Attitude Is Everything) mentality of our program and we will continue to press forward because we believe that’s what Anthony would want us to do.”

A three-time all-state player, Robinson was also The West Alabama Watchman’s Player of the Year in football in 2012.

Funeral arrangements are pending.