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Grimes County, Tx (FOX 44) – The driver of a vehicle that collided head on with a Navasota police vehicle killing Sgt. Mark Butler has been identified as 59-year-old Kimberly Lannigan, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was also killed in the crash.
The crash occurred January 15 on State Highway 6 as a 2023 black Jeep Wrangler that DPS troopers say was driven by Lannigan was going south in the northbound lanes of the highway. Sgt. Butler was driving a marked Navasota Police Department Chevrolet Tahoe with its emergency lights and siren activated.
The DPS investigation indicated that about 3:15 p.m. that day College Station police were pursuing the Jeep Wrangler going south on Highway 6. During the pursuit, the Jeep exited Highway 6 at FM-2154 then turned southbound onto the northbound service road of Highway 6 at which time the College Station officer dropped off the pursuit.
DPS troopers say the Jeep then entered the exit ramp of Highway 6 onto the northbound main lanes of the highway traveling south, against the flow of traffic. The Jeep continued into Grimes County where the collision occurred.
Sgt. Butler was transported to CHI St Joseph Hospital in Navasota where he was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the Jeep, now identified as Lannigan, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The funeral service for Sgt. Mark Butler will take place on Friday, January 24 at Central Church Bryan College Station, located at 1991 FM-158 in College Station. Services will begin at 12:00 PM, followed by a reception at the VFW in Navasota. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 23, at Nobles Funeral Home, located at 402 E Blackshear Street. Public visitation will be from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.