Don Rogers’ Mother Held After Accident

SACRAMENTO — The mother of Don Rogers, the Cleveland Browns’ football star who died of a cocaine overdose in June, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, hit and run, and endangering Rogers’ 4-year-old child, police said Friday.

Loretha Rogers, 43, of Sacramento, was taken into custody at 11:35 p.m. Thursday, nearly a mile from where the car she was driving allegedly hit a fence in the northern region of the city, Capt. Bob Burns said.

Officers discovered the 1981 Cadillac, which was still dragging about 20 feet of the chain-link fence, by following a trail of debris from the fence and leaking transmission fluid, Burns said.

Her grandson, Don Rogers Jr., was riding in the car and was taken into protective custody, Burns said.

Mrs. Rogers was held in Sacramento County Jail for investigation of driving under the influence, misdemeanor hit and run, and child endangerment, he said. A court date was not immediately set.

Mrs. Rogers was hospitalized due to a stress-related heart ailment from the day of her son Don’s death, June 27, until July 9.

Her son, who bought a Sacramento home for her, died from cocaine poisoning on the eve of his wedding at the age of 23, eight days after the similar death of University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias.