Tour de Fat Crash: Elderly Driver Returns to Court
A brief hearing outlined the potential prison terms for a man accused of killing one cyclist and injuring others during a popular bicycle parade.
By Camila Rodriguez ·
Nearly two months after a deadly collision on a busy Fort Collins street, the 88-year-old man charged in the incident stood before a judge on Thursday. This initial court date marked the first formal step in the legal process following the tragedy that shook the local community.
The judge, Daniel McDonald, walked Van Edward Lemaster through the specific accusations. The court heard seven distinct counts. These included one charge of vehicular homicide, four counts of vehicular assault, and two counts of reckless endangerment. The judge also explained the range of possible sentences. For the homicide charge, the law allows for a prison term between two and six years. If the court finds aggravating circumstances, that maximum can rise to twelve years. Lemaster nodded to show he understood these potential penalties.
During the short proceeding, Lemaster sat beside his lawyer. He wore a headset to listen to the judge and the attorneys. The atmosphere was somber but routine, a standard first appearance in a criminal case.
The incident under review happened on August 29. It occurred on Mountain Avenue in the Old Town area. At the time, the crowd was large because the Tour de Fat bicycle parade was finishing its route. Investigators say Lemaster was trying to reverse his Chevrolet Silverado out of a parking spot. He reportedly struck another car first. Then, he drove forward onto a sidewalk and an outdoor patio where onlookers were standing. Joshua Douglass was among those hit. He later passed away from his injuries. Several other people were also hurt in the crash.
Police documents detail Lemaster’s account of the event. He told an officer at the hospital that he had tried to back out of the spot multiple times. He said he eventually decided to just press the gas pedal to get the truck moving. Data pulled from the vehicle supported this claim. The records showed the accelerator was fully pressed down as the truck moved forward into the crowd.
The case will continue in the coming months. Lemaster is scheduled to return to the courtroom at 10 a.m. on December 8. Until then, the community awaits the next chapter in this legal process.
Source: Denver7 (KMGH)
