James Wells Jr Arrested in Fatal Abilene Two-Vehicle Crash on Highway 36 at Blackburn Road

Abilene, Texas (April 24, 2021) – According to the authorities, a man has been arrested for intoxication Manslaughter in connection to the March 13 two-vehicle crash that left another man dead in Abilene.

James A. Wells, Jr., 50, was arrested on Friday afternoon, April 23.

The fatal crash happened around 1:05 p.m. on Highway 36 at Blackburn Road.

Authorities said Wells was driving a dark Dodge Challenger at about 127 mph when he rear-ended a pickup truck driven by 39-year-old Mark Rogers of Abilene.

The impact caused the pickup truck to veer off the roadway, where it hit a tree before coming to rest in a field. The Dodge also went off the roadway, where it caught fire.

Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Jennifer, their 8-year-old son, 10-year-old, and 11-year-old daughters were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Wells was also taken to the hospital for treatment. He was arrested on April 23 for charges unrelated to the death of Rogers. He was taken into custody in Cameron and will be charged with Intoxicated Manslaughter once he’s extradited to Taylor County. His bond will be set at a $350,000 bond.

The authorities are investigating the crash.

In Texas, a driver is legally intoxicated after consuming alcohol if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08% or higher. A driver is also considered intoxicated if they don’t have  the normal use of their mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol. Alcohol however is not the only intoxicant, as drivers can become intoxicated by ingesting prescription and illegal drugs such as crack, marijuana, and cocaine.

Regardless of what substance caused the driver’s reaction time to become significantly altered, intoxication by any means can cause terrible accidents and injuries .

Innocent victims harmed by drunk drivers are entitled to compensation for their injuries , including but not limited to medical expenses; lost wages; pain and suffering and mental anguish; physical impairment and disability ; and most importantly, punitive damages to deter future conduct. If a death occurred because of a drunk driver, you will want a knowledgeable accident lawyer to bring a wrongful death action against the drunk driver.

To speak with one of our highly qualified lawyers at  Joel A. Gordon & Associates,  Click to call: 281-943-5555.