Mark Pierce, who departed the University of Arkansas football team after his junior season in a career that had its moments of trouble, is suspected of being the driver in a car wreck that killed a Burleson, Texas, man, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Here is the link to the Texas report.

The Star-Telegram was trying to confirm if the Mark Pierce involved in the accident was the same one who attended Arkansas. 

The Pierce involved in the wreck is listed as living in Vicksburg, Miss., where the former Razorback was reported to have relocated.

Pierce, before he signed with Arkansas in 2001, was a standout football player in high school at Weatherford, a town just west of Fort Worth. Pierce starred for three seasons at Arkansas as a fullback, leaving the team after the 2003 season.

However, Pierce's time at Arkansas was not without some controversy and discipline problems before he left school. Also, Pierce's father died suddenly during the player's freshman year at Fayetteville, and he later said in interviews that it was difficult dealing with the loss. Pierce was suspended for a game in 2003 after an arrest for disorderly conduct.

The Star-Telegram report says that Mark Pierce was arrested Tuesday after a police pursuit. The accident happened near a small airport in south Fort Worth. Pierce was suspected of driving drunk and striking a van driven by Lance Shetler, 42, of Burleson, Texas.

Pierce reportedly left the scene on foot and was captured about an hour later. Shetler was pronounced dead at the accident scene.

The Star-Telegram reports:

Pierce was driving a Chevrolet TrailBlazer that his mother had reported stolen from her Burleson home, according to Lt. Paul Henderson, a Fort Worth police spokesman.

Alcohol containers were in the TrailBlazer, and Pierce showed signs of intoxication, said Sgt. Rodney Bangs, a police supervisor.

Pierce was arrested on suspicion of intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid. He was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, but Henderson did not confirm his whereabouts or condition Tuesday night. A hospital official said it was up to police to provide a report on Pierce.

Henderson also did not provide identifying information about the man in custody. But public records searches and news reports show that the Mark Pierce who played football at Weatherford is now 26 and had moved to Vicksburg.