An Alvinston man has been arrested and charged in connection with a hit and run which claimed the life of a Strathroy man.

On Oct. 11, Iwan Johannes Smolders, 45, was out for bike ride on Calvert Drive when the father of two was hit by a vehicle. He left by the side of the road and died.

Police were looking for a Dodge Dakota or Durango in the Thanksgiving Day crash. Police at the time expected the vehicle likely suffered damage around the headlight and asked auto repair shops, scrap yards and auto parts shops to be on the look out for someone looking for headlight assembly kits.

Smolders had ties to Brooke-Alvinston. His wife, Sonia, is a member of the Brooke-Alvinston Skating Club. The board of directors paid tribute to him at the time of the accident.

“Iwan Smolders was often seen bringing his young daughter Katrina to Canskate and Synchro practice, helping his wife and our fellow board member Sonia with name tags and anything else he could pitch in with,” the board wrote in a social media post. “Iwan was always willing to assist where needed and will be greatly missed by many around the arena.”

Others used words like dedicated and devoted to described the young father.

On Dec. 22, there was a heavy police presence in Alvinston. Officers had two vehicles towed from the scene, including one which appeared to be a Dodge truck.

Thursday, Middlesex OPP arrested Frederick Earhart, 51, from Alvinston. He’s been charged with failing to stop at an accident resulting in death.

He was in court for a bail hearing Friday.