Court documents reveal new information in deadly bicycle crash near Valentine

VALENTINE, Neb. - Court documents reveal new information in the case of an Arkansas man accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist with his vehicle near Valentine on June 29.

Adam Earl Joe Cooper, 35, of White Hall, Arkansas plans to plead not guilty to two Class 3 felonies: motor vehicle homicide and failure to stop and render aid in serious injury or death. He’s accused of killing 82-year-old Larry Covalciuc, who was a participant in Tour de Nebraska, a five-day, 350-mile bike ride across Nebraska.

According to an affidavit, authorities received a report of a bicycle accident west of Valentine on Highway 20 at around 11 a.m. June 29. Cherry County Sheriff Rusty Osburn noted that the damaged bicycle was on the north edge of the road, with a body found approximately 30 to 40 feet northwest of it.

“I checked the individual and found no signs of life,” the affidavit reads.

Investigators collected plastic pieces of a headlight cover matching a Dodge pickup and reviewed video footage showing a black Dodge pickup traveling west from Valentine.

“I received information that the pickup was possibly associated with a painting crew staying at the Harmony Inn in Valentine with the company name of Cooper Brothers Painting. I contacted a relative and found out that Adam Cooper was the person that had the black Dodge pickup,” the affidavit reads.

Court paperwork then reports that law enforcement statewide worked together to stop the pickup. The Hooker County Sheriff verified that there was damage to the right front corner of the pickup.

Cooper has waived his physical appearance at the arraignment hearing scheduled for Aug. 16.