Suspect in fatal hit-and-run in Monument dragged woman 300 feet: Affidavit
A few days after a hit-and-run crash at a McDonald's in Monument killed a 47-year-old, the suspect turned himself in to law enforcement.
Just before noon Monday , the El Paso County Sheriff's Office was notified of a hit-and-run wreck in the parking lot of the McDonald's at 765 West Baptist Road.
Monument police found a severely injured adult female. Despite aid from first-responders, Kristy Kerst died at the scene.
The Sheriff's Office took over the investigation and asked the community for assistance in identifying the suspect, according to prior Gazette reporting.
On Wednesday, Joel Lang, 41, turned himself in to Colorado Springs police. The Sheriff's Office took Lang into custody, recovering the vehicle used in the deadly crash in the process.
In an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette on Thursday, investigators allege that the incident started with a fender bender, when Lang accidentally hit Kerst's vehicle while backing out of a parking spot.
Video footage from a nearby business showed Kerst and a family member hopped out of their vehicle to confront Lang.
Lang continued to drive away, running over Kerst, who was dragged nearly 300 feet before she fell free from beneath the vehicle.
In an interview with Lang after he was detained, he said that he felt the bump and "knew it was (Kerst)" but continued to drive away. He stated that he did not look back or stop because "he just wanted to get out of the area."
Also in the affidavit, investigators said Lang "knew she was under the vehicle, and (he) knew that his continual driving and dragging her (Kerst) would cause the death of the victim."
Lang has been charged with second-degree murder, vehicular homicide, duty to report accidents and accidents involving death. He was booked into the El Paso County jail with a $50,000 bond, and will make a first appearance in court Nov. 14.
Law enforcement continues to seek information from anyone who witnessed or has information related to this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line at 719-520-7777.
