By John Moritz Dawn Denny
Updated: Friday, October 11, 2013, 11:50 AM CDT
Published: Thursday, October 10, 2013, 7:35 PM CD
PFLUGERVILLE (KXAN) - Three Killeen pastors, including a husband and wife, died Thursday in a one-car rollover wreck on State Highway 130 near Pflugerville.
Click here to read original article on KXAN- NBC News
The victims were identified as Terry and Janice Whitley and Steve Timmerman. They were ministers at Grace Christian Center in Killeen.
"It is with the deepest sorrow that we have to announce the passing of Pastors Terry, Jan and Pastor Steve," the church said in an statement on its website. "They died in a traffic accident on the way back from the airport."
Austin-Travis County EMS says the crash happened about 7 p.m in the 19400 block of SH 130 and involved one vehicle, a small passenger van.
Two passengers in the vehicle died at the scene. The 75-year-old driver was ejected from the van and taken to a Round Rock hospital where he later died.
A motorist driving behind the van in a northbound lane said the vehicle had a blowout and rolled several times before coming to a stop in the southbound lanes.
Northbound lanes of SH 130 reopened about 9:40 p.m. Southbound lanes were opened shortly before 11 p.m.
While crews were trying to clear the scene, another vehicle crashed into the back of a tow truck, authorities said.
According to the Grace Christian website, the church has about 2,000 members. Terry Whitley was the senior pastor and Janice Whitley was the administrator and an associate paster. Timmerman was an associate pastor and was in charge of pastoral care and the men's ministry.
Terry Whitley was a pastor at Grace Christian for more than 30 years, the website said.
According to his biographical page, Whitley's "vision for missions has taken him to many countries around the world including Ethiopia, Australia, Russia, Finland, India, Romania, Indonesia, Korea, Germany, England, Ireland, Mexico, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Bulgaria, New Zealand and Albania.
"He has planted seeds in countless lives, many of who may speak no English but see the Holy Spirit at work in his life. He is fulfilling the great commission by taking the Word of God to the uttermost parts of the earth and as a result a mighty harvest."
anice Whitley's page says she "devoted her life to helping people find personal fulfillment through practical understanding of the Scriptures. The foundation of her life in Christ has been as a result of a powerful prayer life and an intense love and enthusiasm for God's Word."
The Whitley's had two children.
Timmerman was married to Pam Timmerman, a bookkeeper at Grace Christian, and they had four children.
The church plans to a memorial starting at 7 p.m. Friday
