Community Chat

[Katcat1]

Yesterday, it was broadcasted on t.v. that Chris Soules (ex Bachelor) left the scene of an accident.  That is not quite accurate.  He called 911 immediately after the accident and was by the man that was on the tractor at his side and talking to 911 he told 911 he did not know CPR but he was told to pump the heart which he did but then there was no pulse.  I guess he was scared and took off which was wrong but to say he left the scene of the accident like he did absolutely nothing was wrong - very wrong.  It seems that Chris has a problem with alcohol but so far is not charged with a DUI.  Chris needs to address his problem with drinking.  I mean what is there to do out where he lives?  No town to speak so he farms and drinks.  I doubt that the tractor had any rear lights on and it was dark.  What's your take on this? 

[cecesnana]

The "media" wasn't wrong imho. He was arrested charged with leaving the scene of the accident which he did.

It's not ok to call 911 and then leave.

The report i saw said he hid in his mom's house and was uncooperative.

He's on bail and wearing an ankle bracelet device now so he won't flee.

[Kachina624]

I'd say it was accurate; he did leave the scene of the accident.   Does not having anything to do excuse one from remaining sober?  There are millions who live in rural areas that aren't drunks.  If the guy on the tractor was in compliance with the law, he had lights.  You have no way of knowing. 

Sounds like you're trying to make excuses for this sorry individual. 

[jeanlake]

If CS could have a 'do over' for that day, no doubt he would. He exercised poor judgement and I'm sorry he's weak when it comes to alcohol. Has to be tormenting. Having an alcoholic parent, I resist making excuses for people, but have compassion for their brokenness. Absolutely news media tried to make headlines and didn't throroughly check their sources. It's what they do.  

[susan kay]

@Katcat1, I agree with you.  The media left out some facts.  To me, it sounded as if he hit the guy and took off.  Yes, he should have stayed there, but in my opinion, some key facts were left out of the stories.  I have no idea about an alcohol problem other than the media  discussed the incident he had in 2006, or at least that's all I heard.  

[momtochloe]

There are a lot of conflicting news reports out of this accident and the fact that he was hauled into court leads me personally to believe he was involved in this man's passing.  God bless whomever called 911 to try and help that man that passed but the fact that he left the scene speaks volumes.  My ex had family out in Iowa and driving a tractor at night on a very rural road is not unusual but all of them have large reflectors on their tractors.  He made a very bad mistake driving drunk and then apparently compounded it by leaving the scene of the accident.

[makeup addict]

It was reported accurately. If he hit the guy and did not stop, he would be charged with hit and run. He left before the authorities arrived - leaving a scene of a crime. 

'im so tired of people say8ng stuff is fake news when the truth is being reported. 

[cecesnana]

http://www.eonline.com/news/845933/inside-chris-soules-criminal-record-and-how-it-impacts-the-bachel...

"Soules was arrested around 1 a.m. Tuesday at his home in Arlington—about 15 miles away from the accident—on charges of leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred, which is labeled a "Class D" felony.

He posted $10,000 bail and had an arraignment earlier today.

To make matters even more serious, the Buchanan Sheriff's Department is investigating whether Soules was under the influence at the time of the accident—something with which farmer has a history of legal run-ins.

E! News can confirm Soules was arrested in 2005 for Operating While Intoxicated (Iowa's term for DUI) after which he was fined $500, given a 60-day jail sentence, a 58-day suspended jail sentence and a year of probation.

In 2001, he was charged twice (on two separate occasions) for minor in possession of alcohol.

Soules also has a history of traffic violations including seven speeding violations from 2000-2012 as well as the unlawful use of a license in January 2002.

He was also previously charged for leaving the scene of an accident in 2002 after running a stop sign.

However, that was later amended from leaving the scene due to defective brakes.

So what does all of this mean for Soules as he moves forward in his latest arrest? E! News spoke to legal expert Troy Slaten and discussed the various legal ramifications he could face.

"What it looks like right now, he is facing what is called a Class D felony, which is leaving the scene of an accident causing death," Slaten explained. "Leaving the scene of an accident causing death is, in and of itself, a felony."

However, Slaten said if police discover he was, in fact, driving under the influence, that could result in a much more serious set of punishments.

"If he was 0.08 or higher blood alcohol content, or so impaired by alcohol that the alcohol was the cause of the accident, then it's a whole other can of worms for him," Slaten said. "It's a worse penalty. He's facing more potential punishment and greater consequences if there was alcohol involved."

Furthermore, Slaten said Soules' previous criminal record of alcohol-related arrests could have an impact on the charges he faces for Monday's fatal accident.

"When somebody has a prior conviction for DUI, that can mean a couple of things," Slaten explained. "It can change a case of vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter into murder, and here's why:

Normally when we talk about murder, there has to be some sort of malice or evil intent. Getting in an accident is usually not evil—an accident is an accident—but when somebody has been convicted of DUI [in the past], they're under a greater understanding of the dangers of drinking and driving because [they've] been through DUI classes and special alcohol education."

Therefore, Slaten continued, "Because [Soules] has been through that higher level of education...If he decided to go out and get impaired by alcohol and continue to drive, they can imply malice and say, 'You knew how dangerous it was [to drink and drive], but you went and did it anyway. You had this indifference to human life.

Therefore, you're guilty of murder.'"

Since the Iowa State Patrol is still investigating whether alcohol was involved in the accident, Slaten explained the other reasons Soules may have fled the scene.

"Sometimes people leave the scene of an accident when they know that they're impaired because they don't want to get caught when they're impaired," he told us. "[But] sometimes people leave the scene of an accident because they're scared, and they're completely sober."

Slaten said Soules could have just been scared and went looking for help, or he could have been totally unaware that someone else was involved in the accident consider the man was on a tractor and it was dark out.

Nonetheless, Slaten continued, "In Iowa—and as in most jurisdictions—if somebody is injured in an accident, you owe a duty to render aid, and the only reason you can leave the scene is to go notify authorities.

Then Iowa law requires that you come back to the scene or let police immediately know where you are."

What we do know for sure is that Soules got an arraignment Tuesday, which Slaten confirmed means he is facing criminal charges.

"An arraignment only happens with criminal charges," Slaten explained, adding that Soules could also face civil liability on behalf on the victim's family. "It appears that his driving was the approximate cause of the injury that resulted in death, so even if he didn't have any criminal charges (which he does), he's could face civil liability. [This] means money he would owe to the family of the person that he killed."

He further explained, "So the criminal case is about punishment, going to jail, community service, DUI classes, and the civil case is about money and compensating somebody. In this case, it's the family of the deceased person—whether it's his kids or brothers and sisters or parents—to make them whole for the loss of their loved one."

[Katcat1]

@Kachina624,  Heavens no, I am not trying to side with him.  However, the news media got it all wrong the first time which is unfair to any individual.  I heard the the conversation with 911.  I also heard he was hiding at his mom's house (he knows he screwed up; he caused the accident).  I know that not all farmers or people that live in rural areas drink but I have a feeling the percentage of people that do drink is pretty high.  

[Katcat1]

@susan kay.   I heard Chris say when he was on the Bachelor that he would drink a little whiskey every morning to calm his nerves.