Entertainment

Luke Pell Comments On Chris Soules' Arrest

by Lia Beck
Rick Diamond/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Following Chris Soules' arrest on Tuesday, a few members of the Bachelor family have started to speak out. Luke Pell commented on Soules' arrest to E! News with positive words about his friend. Soules' lawyers previously commented on his arrest in a statement to Just Jared, which reads:

Chris Soules was involved in an accident Monday evening (April 24) in a rural part of Iowa near his home. He was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher, the other person in the accident, passed away. His thoughts and prayers and with Mr. Mosher’s family.

UPDATE: Audio released by the Buchanan County Sheriff's department shows that Chris Soules called 911 in regards to the accident.

UPDATE #2: A rep for Soules released the following statement to Bustle on May 3: "Neither Mr. Soules nor his legal counsel will be responding to the numerous tabloid style articles and journalists who have been reporting false and misleading stories by citing 'unnamed sources.' Rather, they will be focusing on presenting the truth, which will reveal how inaccurate and unfair so many of these news accounts have been. We are confident that the fair-minded citizens of Iowa will do what they’ve always done – reserve judgment until all of the accurate information is properly presented."

EARLIER: For those unaware, on early Tuesday, Soules was arrested for allegedly fleeing the scene of a fatal car accident. According to the Buchanan County, Iowa Sheriff's Office, the former Bachelor allegedly rear-ended a tractor causing both vehicles to go into a ditch. Soules allegedly fled the scene and was later arrested, charged with allegedly committing a Class D felony, and released on $10,000 bond. The driver of the tractor later died in a hospital. According to local Iowa NBC affiliate KWWL, Soules is set to have a preliminary hearing on May 2.

As for Pell's comment on the situation, he told E! News,

"Chris by far is one of my closest friends from the Bachelor family. We've got similar backgrounds growing up in small towns and everything so we have a lot in common and relate a lot on our backgrounds. I've gotten to know Chris and he's just a great guy that loves people who is very sincere and genuine. That's what hooks me is that, man, I just hate to hear that such a great person is having to go through a struggle like this. It's tough and super unfortunate and [I'm] just sad that it happened."

In addition to Pell, Soules' ex-fiancée, Whitney Bischoff, also commented on the situation in a statement to People on Tuesday. She simply said, "This is a very sad situation. I’m keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers, especially the victim and his family."

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E! News also received a statement from former Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise contestant Marcus Grodd, who was on Andi Dorfman's season along with Soules. "It's tragic that someone's life has been lost and I'm sure Chris is scared. I'm sure he's devastated for the family and scared for himself. If he needs anything, I'm there," Grodd told E!

The Buchanan County Sheriff's Department shared the following statement with Bustle on Tuesday:

On Monday, April 24, 2017 at approximately 8:20 pm, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries in the 1000 blk of Slater Avenue (W45) north ofAurora. According to the investigation, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Christopher Douglas Soules, 35, of Arlington was southbound on Slater Avenue when he struck the rear of a southbound John Deere 2640 tractor operated by Kenneth Eugene Mosher, 66, of Aurora. The collision caused the tractor to go into the east ditch. Soules’ vehicle went into the west ditch. Mosher was transported to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein where he was pronounced dead. Soules was uninjured in the accident and left the scene of the accident prior to law enforcement arrival.
Soules was located shortly after at his residence located in the 7500 blk of B Avenue in near Arlington in Fayette County. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Buchanan County Jail, where he was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Motor Vehicle Accident (class D felony). Soules bonded out of the Buchanan County Jail on a $10,000 bond on Tuesday morning, April 25, 2017.
No other information is being released at this time pending the continued investigation into the cause of the accident. Due to the on-going investigation, further charges may be pending. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by the Iowa State Patrol, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora Fire Department and Oelwein Mercy Ambulance Service.