Bethel Police Found Seven Witnesses to Biker's Accident

Bethel Police officers who investigated the fatal bicycle accident that killed Thomas Steinert-Threlkeld at about 2:42 p.m. on Oct. 20 say they found seven witnesses to the accident and two who saw a white male in his 20's drive away from the intersection.

The Arrest Warrant Affidavit charging Alexander Lee, 21, of Bethel, with failure to stop, said he made a sudden turn toward Old Hawleyville Road from 302, nearly hit a car stopped at a stop sign, and turned into the path of Steinert-Threlkeld and his bicycle, which struck him. He then drove away, according to the affidavit.

Police charged Lee with evading responsibility in a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, improper left turn, misconduct with a motor vehicle, and tampering with evidence.

Immediately after Lee's car cleared the intersection, a second car drove through the intersection and ran over Steinert-Threlkeld, who was laying on the road, the affidavit said.

Police said Lee didn't bring his car back to Bethel for several days after the accident, and he tried to remove the dent from the rear passenger side quarter panel using tools from an auto shop. Five days after the accident, on Oct. 25, police found the car in Brookfield, where Lee works, and moved it to the Bethel Police Department to preserve evidence.

Lee told police on Oct. 25 he thought the bicycle hit his car on Oct. 20, but he was scared so he drove away, the affidavit said. It said Lee did not make any attempt between Oct. 20 and Oct. 25 to contact the police until they interviewed him on Oct. 25.