Big Country Beat: 5 lives taken in 3 incidents in Abilene, Baird

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Another active news week in the Big Country brings heartbreaking stories including young lives lost in a Baird crash, a storm chaser helping save a Hawley family caught in a tornado, and more. Keep reading for a full look at the trending local articles of the week.

This week’s top 5 in BCH’s Big Country Beat

Following a fire at an Abilene motel, authorities discovered a man deceased in a room Thursday morning. Investigators are working to figure out what happened, but no foul play is suspected.

To start out the work week, police were called out to an Abilene grocery store Monday afternoon in reference to a robbery suspect with a “bladed weapon.” In a press release, the Abilene Police Department (APD) said officers first used a taser in an attempt to disarm the suspect. Ultimately, they shot the man to death. Two APD officers involved are now on paid leave.

In reality, this entire Big Country Beat would have only been two subjects: Last Thursday’s tornadoes and our coverage on the number one story.

More:
UPDATE: Hawley tornado that injured family of 4 classified as “high-end” EF-3, wind speeds of 165MPH
‘They were whirled around inside’: Hawley family of 4 survives tornado

The story you were most interested involving our local storm coverage was a tale of heroism from a storm chaser who essentially saved the lives of a family of four in Hawley after they were caught in the eye of the tornado.

Snyder DPS trooper, Christopher Prince, was featured in last week’s Big Country Beat in the number three slot. Texas Ranger arrested him after investigating a report made against him in February. Prince was booked into the Nolan County Jail on a Bestiality charge last week, bonded out shortly after.

We have made it to the real talk of the town: The three teenagers killed in Baird early this Sunday morning.

According to the Department of Public Safety, several teenagers were driving around 2:00 a.m. when they collided with a drunk driver. In the crash report, DPS said the driver of the vehicle with the teenagers did not yield the right of way, and the drunk driver was later arrested .

18-year-olds Layni Potter and Madi Buchanan, and 16-year-old Ryan Bilby were announced dead at the scene.

The loss of these teenagers hit the Baird community hard. Baird High School offered counseling , the city closed off the stretch of road where they died for a candlelight vigil , and three funerals were held between Wednesday and Friday.

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