7 charges face 88-year-old man after fatal Fort Collins crash

An 88-year-old man accused of driving into a crowd during Fort Collins' Tour de Fat made his first court appearance on Thursday, nearly two months after the crash that left one person dead and several others hurt. Van Edward Lemaster faces seven charges tied to the Aug. 29 incident, in which Joshua Douglass was killed. During the brief hearing, Lemaster sat next to his attorney and used a headset to follow the proceedings.

The judge described the possible penalties. Vehicular homicide carries a sentence of two to six years in prison, or as much as 12 years if aggravating circumstances are found. Lemaster told the court he understood the potential penalties.

The crash occurred on Mountain Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins as the Tour de Fat bicycle parade was coming to a close. According to the arrest affidavit, Lemaster was attempting to back his Chevrolet Silverado out of a parking space when he hit another vehicle. Investigators say he then accelerated onto a sidewalk and an outdoor patio where pedestrians had gathered, striking several people. Douglass later died of his injuries.

The affidavit also states that Lemaster told an officer at the hospital he had tried to back out several times before he 'just gunned it' to leave the space. Investigators cited data from the vehicle indicating that the accelerator was fully depressed as the truck moved forward.

Lemaster is due back in court at 10 a.m. on Dec. 8. The charges include one count of vehicular homicide, four counts of vehicular assault, and two counts of reckless endangerment.

The incident has raised questions about the circumstances that led to the crash. Lemaster was attempting to back his Chevrolet Silverado out of a parking space when he hit another vehicle.

Investigators say he then accelerated onto a sidewalk and an outdoor patio where pedestrians had gathered, striking several people. Douglass later died of his injuries.

The affidavit also states that Lemaster told an officer at the hospital he had tried to back out several times before he 'just gunned it' to leave the space.

Investigators cited data from the vehicle indicating that the accelerator was fully depressed as the truck moved forward.

Lemaster is due back in court at 10 a.m. on Dec. 8.