Monday morning hit-and-run claims life, vigil set for Saturday
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
A 32-year-old man was arrested by Copperas Cove police after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on Urbantke Lane on Monday morning.
Lance Tyler Anderson was arraigned on Tuesday by Judge William Price who issued a $100,000 bond. He has been charged with accident causing injury or death.
William Devauri Ames, also 32, was struck by a white SUV in the 600 block of Urbantke Lane., That SUV was later identified as being driven by Anderson.
Price, also a Coryell County Justice of the Peace, had pronounced Ames dead at approximately 7:11 a.m. By that point, Anderson had fled the scene of the accident and detectives were attempting to locate the vehicle based on the account of eyewitnesses at the scene.
According to the arrest affidavit, CCPD dispatch reported that around 10:15 on Monday morning, Anderson called the police department to report possible criminal mischief to his vehicle.
“Patrol officers were dispatched to Lance’s residence and reported that the damage was consistent with striking a person,” the affidavit stated.
When interviewed by detectives, Anderson “admitted to striking something on Urbantke Lane, however, he insisted that he didn’t know it was a person. Lance further admitted to leaving the scene of the accident, driving back to his residence, hiding marijuana that was concealed within the vehicle and causing additional damage to the vehicle, in an attempt to stage a criminal mischief report.”
Some have been sharing on social media plans to prepare a petition to submit to the city council at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday.
“Many have mentioned they'd be willing to sign a petition to get our city updated, with sidewalks available, better lighting, speed bumps, whatever we can to slow cars down and make it safe for people walking,” wrote Brandi Weir, who considered Ames like family.
On Saturday at 1 p.m., they plan to hold a celebration of his life at the Cove RV park pavilion, 402 W. Business 190, followed by a candlelight service at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Urbantke and South 7th Street. The community is invited to attend.
Meanwhile, the Green and Ames family have set up an online fundraiser for funeral expenses for Ames at https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-william-devauri-dee-ames?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet.