A 27-year-old Aurora man accused of causing the traffic accident that killed a woman on her wedding day made his first court appearance Wednesday after turning himself in.
Kevin Kraft faces charges of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Kraft turned himself in Tuesday evening and posted $25,000 bond after an Arapahoe County district court judge reduced his bail by half, prosecutors said.
He is expected back in court for a preliminary hearing Sept. 21.
Authorities said that Kraft, who was driving a silver Dodge Ram pickup, had been been drinking and speeding June 4 in Aurora when he slammed his truck into a red Volkswagen Beetle driven by Arlene Gavrilis, 25, of Highlands Ranch.
Adam Hawkes, who was Gavrilis’ fiancé, and the Gavrilis family were at the courthouse Wednesday but declined to comment.
Gavrilis had attended her wedding rehearsal dinner just a few hours before the fatal morning crash. She was to be married later that day.
According to police, Gavrilis was northbound on South Nucla Street and tried to make a left turn onto westbound East Hampden Avenue before being struck broadside by Kraft.
Kraft was eastbound in the center lane of East Hampden Avenue, police said. Witnesses reported seeing Gavrilis’ wedding dress hanging out of the wreckage.
Initially, police suspected that Gavrilis had been drinking, but an autopsy found no alcohol in her system.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1173 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
