Lemaster Faces Court After Tour de Fat Crash

Van Edward Lemaster, 88, made his first court appearance Thursday, about two months after a Chevrolet Silverado struck pedestrians at the Tour de Fat bicycle parade. The Aug. 29 crash on Mountain Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins killed cyclist Joshua Douglass and injured several others.

Judge Daniel McDonald walked Lemaster through the seven counts: one vehicular homicide, four vehicular assault and two reckless endangerment. Vehicular homicide carries two to six years in prison, or up to 12 years if aggravating factors are found. Lemaster told the court he understood the penalties. He appeared beside his attorney and used a headset during the hearing.

The arrest affidavit states Lemaster was backing out of a parking space when his truck hit another vehicle, then accelerated onto a sidewalk and patio where people had gathered. Investigators say the accelerator was fully depressed as the truck moved forward. Lemaster told an officer at the hospital that he had tried to back out several times before he "just gunned it" to leave the space. Douglass later died from his injuries.

Lemaster's next court date is Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.