AURORA | Police say they have identified and arrested an Arvada man accused of causing a hit-and-run fatal crash with a motorcycle driver last fall on I-225 in Aurora.
Brian Vondersmith, 37, faces felony charges of vehicular homicide, reckless manslaughter, first-degree assault and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in connection with the Oct. 21 crash.
“Witnesses told officers a Yamaha motorcycle appeared to be racing a Dodge pickup when the driver of the Dodge sideswiped the motorcycle rider, sending him into a guardrail,” police said in a statement.
Police said Vondersmith was driving the pickup truck and fled the scene after causing the crash with Mathew Bouchard, 38, of Aurora, who was driving the motorcycle. Bouchard died before rescuers arrived at the scene on I-225 near East Sixth Avenue.
The Dodge truck was found laster in a vacant parking lot at East 38th Avenue and Sable Boulevard.
“During the investigation, traffic detectives developed information that Vondersmith was driving the Dodge pickup at the time of the fatal crash,” police said.
Vondersmith was taken Friday to the Adams County Courthouse in Brighton, where he was scheduled to appear for a hearing in district court in an unrelated theft case, according to police.
Adams County did not have immediately information about terms of Vondersmith’s detention or release on bond.
The investigation is still active. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
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