'Bachelor' star Chris Soules arrested for leaving scene of fatal crash

AURORA — Chris Soules, who brought national prominence to the small town of Arlington as a star on 'The Bachelor' reality television show, struck and killed a farmer riding a tractor Monday evening and then fled the crash in another vehicle, according to authorities.

Soules, 35, later was arrested at his Arlington home a few miles away by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office and booked into jail at 1:16 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Soules faces one count of leaving the scene of a fatality accident, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison. He posted $10,000 cash bail and was released about midday, said Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Wolfgram. Soules must wear an ankle monitor and was forced to give up his passport.

The Sheriff's Office identified the man killed as Kenneth E. Mosher, 66, of Aurora.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Soules was headed south in a Chevrolet pickup in the 1000 block of County Road W45, north of Aurora, about 8:20 p.m. Monday. He rear-ended a John Deere tractor driven by Mosher. The tractor ended up in the east ditch and the pickup in the west ditch.

Someone called 911 to report the crash. Mosher was taken to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, where he later died.

Mosher was a Vietnam veteran and member of the local American Legion, said David Young, Aurora's mayor and co-owner of Aurora Elevator, which Mosher frequented.

Young said he believes Mosher was headed home after working on a piece of land Mosher owned just east of town when the hit-and-run crash occurred.

Before officials arrived, Soules fled the crash in another vehicle, Sheriff Wolfgram said.

Alcohol containers were found at the scene, he said, and investigators were trying to determine to whom those containers belonged. He declined to say what type of alcohol was found.

'Releasing that would not be fair to any of the parties because we have not determined whose it is or why it was there,' Wolfgram said.

He also would not say if Soules was subjected to field sobriety tests or a breath test upon arrest.

During his initial court appearance, Soules said he would be represented by West Des Moines lawyer Mary K. Spellman. A message left with a person answering the phone there Tuesday was not returned.

Stan Rosenfield, a spokesman for Soules, issued a statement saying Soules was 'devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher ... passed away.'

'His thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Mosher's family,' the statement said.

The tight-night town of Aurora will mourn Mosher's death at an upcoming fish fry.

'It's troubling when you lose one of your friends,' Young said.

Mosher was continuing to work at the Aurora farm where he had grown up, Young said. Nancy, Mosher's wife, 'worked as hard as he did on the farm,' Young said, and adult son was helping also.

The crash remains under investigation and, according to the Sheriff's Office, 'further changes may be pending.'

After appearing on ABC's 'The Bachelor' in 2015 and becoming known to fans as 'Prince Farming,' Soules also appeared as a contestant on ABC's 'Dancing With The Stars' and also appeared in other reality shows and on talk shows.

Makayla Tendall of The Gazette contributed to this report.

lee.hermiston@thegazette.com

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Criminal complaint:

Chris Soules Criminal Complaint (PDF) Chris Soules Criminal Complaint (Text)