Trial in highway death of BBBS director Mark Rogers begins Monday
Just over two years after local Big Brothers Big Brothers leader Mark Rogers died in a two-vehicle crash, the man accused in his death will go on trial.
James Arthur Wells is charged with intoxication manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault for the serious injuries sustained by Rogers' two daughters, who were in the backseat of the family's pickup March 13, 2021, when the crash occurred.
On Monday, jury selection begins. The trial is scheduled for 104th District Court, with Judge Jeff Propst presiding.
A large pool of potential jurors was called. Jury selection will begin at 9 a.m.
Opening arguments should begin after lunch, said Taylor County District Attorney Jim Hicks, who is prosecuting the case. Hicks said Taylor Ferguson, a Fort Worth attorney, is representing the defendant. He previously was a criminal prosecutor in the DA's office there for eight years.
Rogers and his family were returning to Abilene after a spring break trip. Their pickup was within sight of Abilene Regional Airport on State Highway 36 when it was struck just after 1 p.m. by a Dodge Challenger, also northbound, and driven by Wells, of Cameron.
Cameron is between Belton and the Bryan-College Station area.
Wells, then 50, was driving at speeds well in excess of 100 mph, according to authorities. His speed at times was near 130 mph, it was reported.
He tried to pass the Rogers' vehicle on the two-lane highway but an approaching southbound vehicle prevented him from doing so. When Wells returned to his lane, he clipped the Rogers' vehicle, sending it off the road and into a tree.
The Challenger also went off the road and ignited, according to reports.
Impact speed was reported at 112 mph.
Rogers, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Jennifer, and their three children - then ages 8 to 11, were taken to the hospital. Wells also was taken to a hospital.
Wells was arrested on an initial charge of intoxicated manslaughter and bond set at $350,000.
A blood specimen taken from Wells at the hospital tested "presumptively positive" for benzodiazepines at the time he was operating the vehicle, a court document said.
He was transported from Milam County, where he first was held on unrelated charges, to Taylor County.
Rogers was memorialized by the community in many ways.
The city established June 26, his birthdate, as Mark Rogers Day.
At stone at the annual Winter Lightfest is dedicated to Rogers.
Rogers was a native Texan, born in Fort Worth. He was a 2003 graduate of Abilene Christian University and a sports reporter for KTXS-TV here before moving to Hendrick Medical Center and ACU, then becoming the market director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lonestar.
Rogers was involved in other organizations and events in Abilene. He also teamed with County Commissioner Chuck Statler on Fridays nights for radio broadcasts of Abilene High football.
He and his wife were co-campus ministers at Southern Hills Church of Christ.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Trial in highway death of BBBS director Mark Rogers begins Monday
