Updated at 10:00 p.m.
A Fulton pastor and World War II veteran died on Memorial Day in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 54.
William Rogers, better known as Bishop Bill Rogers, was driving his white Ford Escort Monday on Old Jefferson City Road and attempted to pass eastbound U.S. Highway 54 when a black Chevrolet Silverado struck him on the driver's side.
The impact and speed sent both vehicles into the highway median, officers said. Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene and next of kin was notified. Dori Burke, forensic investigator with the Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner's Office, examined Rogers. His body and vehicle were transported around 6:40 p.m. Authorities placed an American flag over the veteran and a Fulton police officer saluted Rogers as he was being placed into a van to be transported away from the scene.
Rogers, who turned 92 on May 1, was the leader of the Church of God, a small white-painted church located at Westminster Avenue and W. Second Street. In his lifetime, Rogers completed more than 100 missionary trips, making multiple visits to Honduras where he preached at various churches to hundreds of people, at a hospital for babies and on T.V. and radio stations as well as the Internet.
A Callaway County Sheriff's Office vehicle blocked off the passing lane as officials investigated the accident, and the highway was down to one lane about a mile from the Route F exit until about 6:55 p.m. Callaway County Joint Communications dispatch received the call about the accident at 4:36 p.m.
A young couple and their infant were riding in the Chevy truck; they have no injuries. The truck was towed away around 6:30 p.m. An officer drove the couple to the Fulton police station, where they could wait comfortably with their baby in the air conditioning. Fulton Animal Control Supervisor Tina Barnes took two dogs, belonging to the family inside the pickup truck, away from the scene. They were being held at the Grabb Animal Shelter in Fulton until the family could make arrangements to pick them up.
Sgt. Joe Schramm, with Fulton Police, said he believes everyone was wearing a seat belt and that the driver of the pickup truck was going at least 70 miles per hour - the speed limit. Schramm said officers will check the black box inside the pickup truck to see what speed it was going at the time of the impact. He added that the driver of the pickup truck was not under the influence of any substances at the time of the accident. The investigation will continue, however authorities do not plan on filing criminal charges, according to a Fulton Police Department press release.
An accident reconstruction expert surveyed the accident scene, detailing skid marks to estimate the speed of the pickup truck, Schramm said.
"(The expert) is trying to rebuild the scene as if we weren't here," Schramm said.
Missouri State Highway Patrol, Callaway County Sheriff's Office, Fulton Police Department, Fulton Fire Department and Callaway County EMS responded to the accident.