Many heavy hearts over jogger's death

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The tragic loss of educator and administrator Mark Gobble has many people from Texas to Boston grieving over his death. Police are searching for his killer.

Gobble was hit Sunday while out jogging and died later at the hospital. He was struck by a driver who left the scene. Police later found the grey Toyota Tacoma pickup truck abandoned in the 6300 block of West Slaughter Lane, a few blocks from where Gobble was hit.

According to police, the investigation shows the driver left the south side of the roadway and crossed the westbound lanes, leaving the north side of the roadway, where he struck Gobble as he jogged.

Gobble, 38, and his family were planning a move to Boston where he was joining the Boston University Programs in Deaf Studies as an associate professor.

A memorial marks the spot where Gobble's life was taken.

Monday, Boston University's director of the Center for the Study of Communication and the Deaf, Robert J. Hoffmeister, PhD., released a statement on behalf of the school about Gobble:

"All of us at Boston University are shocked and heartbroken by Mark's tragic passing. We were looking forward to Mark joining the Programs in Deaf Studies as an associate professor. He was a teacher, a mentor, a leader, and a wonderful husband and father. We are saddened that we were denied the chance to benefit from his remarkable intelligence, his zest for life, and his incredible ability to love. Although our time with Mark had only just begun, the loss is no less intense. We at Boston University will all miss him dearly, as will the countless lives he had yet to influence. Our hearts and prayers are extended to his family."

In turn, Texas School for the Deaf said the school community is mourning his death.

"Mark was a friend and inspiration to many in our close-knit TSD community. He was a loving father of two young TSD students and an adoring husband to his wife, also a teacher at the school.

"TSD Superintendent Claire Bugen joins with the TSD community in expressing her sorrow to the family.

“We have heavy hearts this morning as we wrestle with the tragic news of the accident that killed one of our own TSD family members. We wrap our love and support around the Gobble family on this difficult journey of loss, and we grieve the dreams that Mark was unable to fulfill.

"While at the Texas School for the Deaf, Gobble was a history teacher in the Middle School and Associate Principal of the High School.. Mark has just completed the coursework for his doctoral studies at the University of Texas and had been appointed to the faculty of Boston University. He leaves a legacy of achievements that we are proud to have been a part of."

Gobble was featured in a documentary back in 2003, part of a team of 14 disabled hikers who climbed Mount Everest. At the time, he was a teacher at Texas School for the Deaf.

He also started a successful Austin-based skateboard company in 2010, called Mark Skateboards.

Gobble's death is the seventh one in 2012 where it involved a driver who failed to stop and render aid. There were six such deaths in 2011.

This year there have already been 36 fatal traffic accidents, compared to 20 this time last year. Fifty percent of those accidents have involved pedestrians. They are accidents The Austin Police Department is calling unnecessary.

"Most accidents are avoidable and I think one of the biggest problems we have now is the multiple distractions people have with vehicles. You have texting people are installing video players," said Sgt. Jeff Slater with the Vehicular Homicide Unit of APD.

Services for Gobble are scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m. at Mercury Hall, 615 Cardinal Lane . Arrangements are being handled by Weed-Corley-Fish North , 3125 N. Lamar Blvd.