Bachelor Star Charged with Causing Fatal Accident and Fleeing the Scene

Many car accidents are caused by a driver’s negligence. Often, these accidents involve the negligent driver not paying attention to the road and rear-ending the vehicle in front of them. According to recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions account for the majority of all motor vehicle accidents, comprising about 33 percent of all crashes.

Rear-end collisions are simply defined as collisions in which one vehicle collides with the rear of another vehicle. Across the country, over 2,000 rear-end collisions resulted in a fatality, and over 500,000 resulted in an injury. In Illinois, if another driver is to blame, an accident victim may recover damages from any defendant who was more at fault than they were in causing the accident.

Bachelor Star Charged with Causing Fatal Accident and Fleeing the Scene

According to one news source, a former star of the T.V. series “The Bachelor” has been charged with causing a traffic accident that killed a driver and fleeing the scene. Allegedly, the reality show star was driving a pickup truck at around 8 p.m. on a Monday evening in Iowa and rear-ended a tractor. The tractor then rolled over and fell in a ditch. The reality star’s truck fell in a ditch on the opposite side of the road. The tractor driver, a farmer, was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 66 years old and is survived by his wife, two sons, and three grandchildren.

According to the allegations, the “Bachelor” was not injured and left the scene before the ambulance arrived. Police officers arrested him about five hours later at his home. Police say that an individual called 911 to report the crash. Police claim that the “Bachelor” made the call and told a dispatcher that he “rear-ended a guy in a tractor.” He told the dispatcher that the tractor driver was not conscious and that medical personnel were on their way. He also said the man was bleeding from his mouth. Before medical personnel arrived, he told the dispatcher he would call back and ended the call. Police also say that multiple witnesses led them to identify the reality T.V. star as the truck driver. He first appeared as a participant in “The Bachelorette” in 2014, and then he starred in “The Bachelor” in the following year.

The man was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident. He was released from jail on the following day after he posted $10,000 in bail. Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad and state lawmakers have recently cautioned drivers about the rising number of deaths on roads caused by intoxicated and distracted drivers. Last week, the governor signed laws increasing the penalties for texting-related vehicular homicides. According to police documents, there were alcoholic beverages or containers in the car at the time of the crash, but the driver was not charged with drunk driving. Officers said the crash remains under investigation.

Have You Been Injured in a Chicago Car Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured after a car accident, the Chicago injury attorneys at Moll Law Group can help you seek a broad range of compensatory damages. Our lawyers are knowledgeable in personal injury claims. Our firm represents residents of Naperville, Schaumburg, Wheaton, and cities throughout Cook County. Billions of dollars have been recovered in cases in which we were involved. We also use the knowledge obtained from our experts in litigation to help consumers around the nation. Call us at 312-462-1700 or complete our online form to set up a free initial consultation with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney.

See More Posts:

Pre-Trial Settlements Can Be Ways for Plaintiffs to Obtain Desired Result Without the Risk of Trial, Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog, May 3, 2017.

Resident-on-Resident Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes, Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog, April 3, 2017.

The Continuing Danger of Lead Paint in Chicago-Area Homes, Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog, March 10, 2017.