7 Counts: Elderly Driver Accused in Fatal Parade Crash

Van Edward Lemaster entered not guilty pleas to seven charges on Thursday, nearly two months after his truck struck a crowd during the Tour de Fat parade in Fort Collins. The 88-year-old sat beside his attorney at the hearing, using a headset to follow the proceedings before Judge Daniel McDonald.

The judge detailed the specific allegations and potential penalties for Lemaster. He faces one count of vehicular homicide, four counts of vehicular assault, and two counts of reckless endangerment. Vehicular homicide carries a base sentence of two to six years. If the court finds aggravating circumstances exist, the maximum term rises to 12 years. Lemaster acknowledged he understood these stakes.

The incident occurred on Aug. 29 on Mountain Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins as the bicycle parade neared its end. According to the arrest affidavit, Lemaster was backing his Chevrolet Silverado out of a parking spot when he collided with another vehicle. He then accelerated onto a sidewalk and an outdoor patio where pedestrians were gathering. Joshua Douglass died from his injuries, and several others were hurt.

The affidavit notes that Lemaster told a hospital officer he had attempted to reverse multiple times before deciding to "just gun it" to exit the space. Vehicle data cited by investigators showed the accelerator was fully depressed as the truck moved forward.

The next scheduled court date is Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.