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Coulterville man dead after ATV accident

By Bethany Krajelis, The Southern

Friday, November 16, 2007 10:55 PM CST

POMONA - A Wednesday night crime spree in rural Pomona resulted in the death of 23-year-old Nicholas Solt-Bryd and the filing of theft charges against his roommate.

Jackson County Sgt. Dave Nichols said Solt-Byrd was originally from Coulterville, but living with David Hostalek, 19, on Hickory Ridge Road in Pomona. Solt-Bryd's death and Hostlek's arrest were two separate incidents, he said.

A Hickory Ridge Road resident called the sheriff's department at about 8 p.m. Wednesday after seeing a vehicle crash and the driver flee. The crashed 2002 Kia had been reported stolen earlier that night in Murphysboro, Nichols said.

By 8:30 p.m., another area resident reported that his 1998 pickup truck had been stolen out of his driveway. Police searched the rural roads for the vehicle, which was found in the area sometime later. Nichols said shortly after 11:30 p.m., deputies arrested Hostalek on charges of theft by possession and leaving the scene of an accident stemming from the Kia crash.

He would not release what led police to Hostalek or where he was arrested. He did say during the search for the pickup truck, police came across a wrecked Pontiac Sunfire near Cedar Creek Bridge. That abandoned vehicle was registered to Hostalek, Nichols said.

At about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Nichols said a deputy found a wrecked 4-wheel vehicle in the Hickory Ridge Road area. Police reported that the driver, Solt-Byrd, was found near the crash scene, badly injured. He was taken to St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Preliminary evidence suggests the 4-wheeler, which a Hickory Ridge Road resident reported stolen Wednesday night, struck a large boulder at a high rate of speed, Nichols said. The sheriff's department, state police and the county coroner are continuing to investigate the incidents.

Nichols said the vehicles are being processed for physical evidence and there is the possibility of more charges. Hostalek is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 7 on a Class 3 felony theft charge, according to the Jackson County court Web site.

Solt-Bryd, who enjoyed hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling and motorcycling riding, is survived by his parents, grandmother, three brothers, family, friends and his dog, Lola. Visitation and funeral services for the Coulterville native are scheduled to take place this weekend.

bethany.krajelis@thesouthern.com

351-5816