Big Brothers Big Sisters President Killed in Saturday Afternoon Crash

ABILENE, TX — The Abilene Police Department confirmed the driver killed in a fatal crash on Saturday afternoon was 39-year-old Mark Rogers. Rogers worked as a KTXS sports reporter and anchor and was serving as the president of the West Central Texas chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

According to APD, shortly after 1 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Highway 36 and Blackburn Rd for reports of a major crash.

According to witnesses, a dark Dodge Challenger was speeding northbound on Highway 36 and passing vehicles on the two-lane road. The driver was identified as 50-year-old James Wells

Also traveling north on the highway in a white truck was Rogers, his wife Jennifer, and their 8-year-old son, 10-year-old, and 11-year-old daughters.

As Jones attempted to pass the white truck, he faced oncoming traffic and as he returned to the correct lane he clipped the truck in the rear causing it to veer off the roadway. The truck struck a tree before coming to rest in a field.

The Challenger also veered off the road and caught on fire.

Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene and his family was transported to a local hospital. Jones was also transported to the hospital.

“Mark was one of the first community members to welcome me to the Department and to the City," said Chief Marcus Dudley. "This devastating loss will be felt throughout the community.”

Mayor Anthony Williams also issued the following statement:

“Mark was the very definition of a servant leader, and I know his death will be hard to understand. Please join me in praying for his family and the community as we collectively process this profound loss.”

According to KTXS, Rodgers served as sports director from 2003 to 2006. He left the station in 2008, but continued to co-anchor the station's Football Friday Night show and produced high school football stories.

The Plano native moved to Abilene in 1999 and graduated from ACU. Between 2011 and 2017 he served as the development officer in the university's Athletics Department. He would then take a position with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star as President.