After his arrest early Tuesday morning, Chris Soules' mugshot has been released. Soules allegedly fled the scene of a fatal car crash on Monday, April 24 near Aurora, Iowa. The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office confirmed with Bustle that Soules was indeed arrested and charged for allegedly leaving the deadly accident scene. The sheriff's office also released the mugshot (below) of the former Bachelor and Bachelorette star to Bustle. Soules' rep did not return Bustle's request for comment at the time of publication.
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: 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.
UPDATE #4: 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: According to a press release shared with Bustle by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, further information about the accident will be released as details unfold. The press release reads in its entirety:
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.
Local news affiliate KWWL reported that the Iowa State Patrol said the accident involved a pickup truck, which rear-ended a tractor and resulted in the death of one individual after both vehicles ended up in a ditch. According to the Associated Press, Soules was allegedly driving the pickup truck and the Iowa State Patrol identified the victim as 66-year-old Kenneth Mosher, an Aurora farmer. The AP also reports that Sheriff Bill Wolgram said alcohol was discovered at the scene, but investigators have yet to determine who it belonged to. Iowa news outlet KCRG reported that, according to court documents, the containers were found in the truck Soules was allegedly driving.
As reported by the AP, a judge set a $10,000 cash-only bond for Soules and, if convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
