Bethany Police Chaplain Dies In Auto-Pedestrian Accident

The chaplain for the Bethany Police Department died Thursday in an auto-pedestrian accident.

The accident happened Thursday evening shortly after 6 p.m. at the intersection of N.W. 39th and Donald Avenue.

Police say Wally Renegar was attempting to cross 39th Street when he was struck by an eastbound van. Renegar died at the scene.

1/19/2012 Related Story: Auto-Pedestrian Accident Kills One Person In Bethany

More than one dozen officers both on and off-duty were on scene. Police say Renegar attended the basketball game at Southern Nazarene University Thursday and was crossing the street from the SNU gymnasium to his car parked south of 39th Street when he was hit.

Police say the driver of the van did not appear impaired and witnesses say the driver was not driving erratically. Police say blood samples were taken at the scene but it appears to be an unfortunate accident.

Renegar was a retired minister who is noted as loving his family church and the Bethany Police Department. Wally attended Bethany First Nazarene Church and worked as chaplain for Bethany for six years.

The Bethany Police department is grieving the loss and sending prayers out to Wally's family and friends. Chief Phil Cole said Renegar is one of the finest men he has ever known.