Friday afternoon accident takes life of former JPD chaplain

An accident Friday afternoon on 20th Street in Joplin has taken the life of a man from Webb City who was a former chaplain for the Joplin Police Department.

The Missouri State Highway patrol says a driven by 60-year-old Roger C. Nichols was traveling eastbound on 20th when his car went off the roadway and struck a pole.

After that, the car continued traveling off the roadway, crossed two private driveways and came to a final rest facing east.

Nichols was no longer the JPD’s chaplain but reportedly served in that position for 18 years.

Nichols was transported to Joplin’s Freeman Hospital where he was pronounced dead a little less than an hour after the accident.