Driver in fatal Fort Collins parade crash appears in court

Van Edward Lemaster appeared in court on Thursday for the first time since a deadly crash in Fort Collins. The 88-year-old driver is accused of hitting a crowd during the Tour de Fat bicycle parade. The incident took place on Aug. 29, so this hearing comes nearly two months after the event.

The court listed seven charges against Lemaster. He faces one count of vehicular homicide for the death of Joshua Douglass. There are also four counts of vehicular assault and two counts of reckless endangerment for other injuries. Judge Daniel McDonald reviewed these specific charges with the defendant during the session.

Lemaster sat beside his attorney for the brief hearing. He used a headset to listen to the proceedings. The judge explained the potential prison sentences for each charge. Vehicular homicide carries a penalty of two to six years in prison. If aggravating circumstances are found, the sentence can reach up to 12 years. Lemaster told the court that he understood these possible penalties.

The crash happened on Mountain Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins. The Tour de Fat parade was winding down at the time. According to the arrest affidavit, Lemaster was trying to back his Chevrolet Silverado out of a parking space. He first hit another vehicle during the maneuver.

Investigators say the driver then accelerated onto a sidewalk. He also hit an outdoor patio where pedestrians were gathered. Several people were struck by the truck. Joshua Douglass later died from the injuries sustained in the crash.

The affidavit includes a statement from Lemaster made to an officer at the hospital. He said he tried to back out several times before he just gunned it to leave the space. Investigators also cited data from the vehicle. This data showed the accelerator was fully depressed as the truck moved forward.

The case will continue with the next step in the legal process. Lemaster is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 8. The hearing is set to begin at 10 a.m.