On Tuesday, Chris Soules was arrested and charged for allegedly leaving the scene of a fatal car crash that took place on Monday, April 24, the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office confirmed with Bustle. (Bustle has reached out to Soules' rep for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.) Does this mean Chris Soules will on go trial? Seeing as it's an open investigation and details are still being ironed out, it's not yet entirely clear whether or not the former Bachelor and Bachelorette will go on trial, but he already had a pre-trial Tuesday.
UPDATE: On Tuesday, attorneys Sean Spellman and Molly Spellman released a statement to JustJared about the incident. "Chris Soules was involved in an accident Monday evening in a rural part of Iowa near his home. He was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher, the other person in the accident, passed away. His thoughts and prayers and with Mr. Mosher’s family,” it read.
UPDATE #2: Audio released by the Buchanan County Sheriff's department shows that Chris Soules called 911 in regards to the accident.
UPDATE #3: A rep for Soules released the following statement to Bustle on May 3: "Neither Mr. Soules nor his legal counsel will be responding to the numerous tabloid style articles and journalists who have been reporting false and misleading stories by citing 'unnamed sources.' Rather, they will be focusing on presenting the truth, which will reveal how inaccurate and unfair so many of these news accounts have been. We are confident that the fair-minded citizens of Iowa will do what they’ve always done – reserve judgment until all of the accurate information is properly presented."
EARLIER: KWWL reports that Soules' preliminary hearing is set for May 2. According to the United States Department of Justice, a preliminary hearing is essentially a "mini-trial." The prosecution is allowed to introduce evidence and call witnesses to the stand, who the defense can also cross-examine. At the end of the preliminary hearing, a judge decides whether or not there is enough evidence for a trial. Soules' preliminary hearing will determine if he will go on trial or not.
According to the Associated Press, during his pre-trial appearance Tuesday, a judge set a $10,000 cash-only bond for Soules. The AP also reports that the 35-year-old had not been released from jail as of late Tuesday morning. The AP reports that Sheriff Bill Wolgram said that if Soules is granted pre-trial release, then he would have to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and also surrender his passport. Regarding the latter, Entertainment Tonight reports that Soules has already turned in his passport, because he was reportedly planning to attend an event outside of the country.
UPDATE: The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office released the following updated press release to Bustle Tuesday afternoon:
On Monday, April 24, 2017 at approximately 8:20 pm, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries in the 1000 blk of Slater Avenue (W45) north ofAurora. According to the investigation, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Christopher Douglas Soules, 35, of Arlington was southbound on Slater Avenue when he struck the rear of a southbound John Deere 2640 tractor operated by Kenneth Eugene Mosher, 66, of Aurora. The collision caused the tractor to go into the east ditch. Soules’ vehicle went into the west ditch. Mosher was transported to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein where he was pronounced dead. Soules was uninjured in the accident and left the scene of the accident prior to law enforcement arrival.
Soules was located shortly after at his residence located in the 7500 blk of B Avenue in near Arlington in Fayette County. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Buchanan County Jail, where he was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Motor Vehicle Accident (class D felony). Soules bonded out of the Buchanan County Jail on a $10,000 bond on Tuesday morning, April 25, 2017.
No other information is being released at this time pending the continued investigation into the cause of the accident. Due to the on-going investigation, further charges may be pending. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by the Iowa State Patrol, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora Fire Department and Oelwein Mercy Ambulance Service.
EARLIER: The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office released the following press release to Bustle Tuesday:
On Monday, April 24, 2017 at approximately 8:20 pm, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident in the 1000 blk of Slater Avenue north of Aurora involving a pickup truck and a tractor. At this time, one fatality has been confirmed. No other information is being released at this time pending the investigation and notification of family. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and further information will be released at a later time.
