The Bachelor

Chris Soules called 911 at the scene of the crash before booking it ... this according to the 911 audio.

You hear a winded Soules -- who also seemed coherent -- telling the dispatcher there was an accident with a tractor and a vehicle and says the tractor driver was injured and unconscious after being thrown into a ditch.

Soules interacted with the victim, checking his pulse ... saying he felt it. Soules also said the victim was bleeding from his mouth.

The 911 audio goes on ... the dispatcher asks if anyone could administer CPR. Someone is performing CPR but it's unclear if it was Soules.

Chris Soules was soft-spoken during his first appearance in front of the judge on his case.

Soules was in Buchanan County Court Tuesday morning -- the judge had to instruct him to speak louder, so the court recorder could actually hear him. KWWL was in court for the hearing.

The ex-'Bachelor' star was charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

As we reported ... Soules was arrested for driving into the back of a John Deere tractor on the road Monday evening. The tractor flipped over, killing 66-year-old Kenny Mosher ... a local farmer.

Soules posted his $10,000 bond after court and was released. His rep says Chris "was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher passed away. His thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Mosher's family."

10:36 AM PT -- Police eventually found Soules at a residence but it took hours for them to get a search warrant ... this according to KWWL TV. It will therefore be difficult for prosecutors to prove he may have been under the influence at the time of the crash since hours passed before he was spotted.

10:10 AM PT -- We're told Chris just posted bond and will be released shortly.

7:45 AM PT -- Soules is in court now for his arraignment. TMZ has obtained documents in which police say he was in possession of alcoholic beverage containers at the time of the crash. Soules was apprehended after witnesses near the scene of the crash ID'd him and called police.

Chris is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.

'Bachelor' Chris Soules is in custody after allegedly slamming into a tractor, killing the driver and then fleeing the scene ... TMZ has learned.

The incident happened in Iowa Monday at 8:20 PM. According to docs, Chris was driving a Chevy pickup and rear ended a John Deere tractor, sending it into a ditch. The driver was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.

Soules, who appeared on "The Bachelor" for season 19 in 2015, is in custody and we're told he received medical attention.

Soules was booked on the charge of leaving the scene with a death.

'Bachelor' star Nick Viall's big rhumba finish on 'DWTS' with fiancée Vanessa Grimaldi was very revealing ... damn near TOO revealing.

Nick scored a new personal record for his dance to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You". It's possible Vanessa helped him score a few extra points with their steamy makeout sesh at the end ... not to mention lifting her too high for her dress.

No hard feelings though based on the looks they were giving each other on their way out of the after-party. Next dance -- the horizontal mambo?

If anyone had doubts 'Bachelor' star Nick Viall and fiancee Vanessa Grimaldi were the real deal this footage from Sunday's "Dancing with the Stars" rehearsal should put those to bed.

Nick's dancing the rhumba to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" Monday night and looks like Vanessa's gonna join him for part of it.

He pulls her out of her seat and, at least during rehearsals, he had a really hard time letting her go ... especially once their lips locked.

Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi are supposed to be engaged ... but you'd never guess it by the way they hang together when cameras aren't rolling.

Paps got America's newest favorite TV couple Thursday in Hollywood fresh off their 'Bachelor' finale earlier this week -- and they looked ... well, distant.

It's interesting ... they appeared cheerful as hell in front of a camera Tuesday in L.A.

But let's not forget their awkward onscreen reunion, which got people wondering if their post-'Bachelor' love was just a big sham.

Maybe they were having an off day ... you tell us.

Nick Viall handed out his final rose on "The Bachelor," and even got on one knee for the lucky lady ... now the dude's FINALLY engaged!

Nick chose Vanessa Grimaldi Monday night as the winner of his heart, and the moment he proposed to her was pretty emotional ... considering his bad streak on 'Bachelor' shows.

It's interesting ... Vanessa seemed pretty unsure throughout the finale on whether she was ready to accept a ring. But that all went out the window when Nick popped the question.

As for 25-year-old Raven ... we gotta say, she took her rejection pretty well. In fact, Nick seemed to be crying a lot more than her.

Anyway ... here's to Nick. Hopefully this one works out, bud.

Vanessa Grimaldi trolled the hell out of 'Bachelor' fans by posing with a bunch of wedding dresses ... but we've learned it was all business -- and NOT Nick Viall business.

Vanessa, one of the last 3 women standing this season, posed for a photo at Le Chateau in Montreal with creative coordinator Holly Wiancko -- and more importantly -- racks full of wedding and bridesmaids dresses.

Naturally, many fans thought Vanessa had just spoiled the final rose ceremony ... that she was already prepping to be Mrs. Viall. Well, you can stop searching for their wedding registry.

Sources connected to Le Chateau tell us the shop invited Vanessa -- who's from Montreal -- to check out their new line and to talk about a partnership once 'Bachelor' wraps. We're told she didn't try on anything from the bridal section.

Corinne Olympios loves to tease, and she's sticking to that ... even after Nick Viall sent her packing.

The 'Bachelor' villain was at LAX Tuesday when she dropped a nugget about a possible reality show in the works. Even though she didn't win, Corrine maintains she's the best in the game.

In her usual fashion ... she left our camera guy craving more.

Former 'Bachelorette' Andi Dorfman is done with reality TV dating, although she sure seems invested in Nick Viall's love life.

Viall and Andi have history ... he was a finalist when she was the 'Bachelorette.' Maybe she's having buyer's remorse by picking Josh Murray -- that relationship went down in flames -- because she seems to have a soft spot for the runner-up.

Finally, a black contestant will be handing out the roses -- multiple sources say Rachel Lindsay will be the next 'Bachelorette.'

Rachel is currently 1 of the 6 women still vying for Nick Viall on "The Bachelor," so this is kind of a spoiler -- but The Hollywood Reporter says she'll be calling the shots next time around. It marks the first time a black contestant will be the lead in 21 'Bachelor' seasons and 12 'Bachelorette' seasons.

Our own Bach Nation sources confirmed Rachel -- an attorney from Texas -- is getting the nod ... which seems like super bad news for Nick, and great news for a bunch of yet-to-be-named dudes.

The one thing we'd just about guarantee is she won't find true love. It's beyond rare on these shows.

Nick Viall seems to have his mind made up about who he likes on "The Bachelor" -- and all signs point to Corinne ... whether she's two-faced or not.

On Monday night, Taylor made it clear she wasn't leaving -- after getting booted last week -- without telling Nick all about Corinne's lies and back-stabbing ways.

Nick seems to take her message to heart ... that is, until he leaves with Corinne ... and quickly proceeds to make out with her.

Nick Viall is 5 weeks in and something cray is happening on "The Bachelor" -- 3 black women are still in the running, and at least one is becoming a fan fave!

Rachel kinda killed it on Monday night's episode, by all accounts ... doing a sexy NOLA date with Nick, who copped to falling for her during dinner.

Not that we see color, but fact is the 'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' shows get knocked for black contestants never getting a fair shake. Lawsuits have been filed over it, after all.

Nick's been equal opportunity -- he kicked off 3 black women, but 3 are still getting roses.

Yes we can, America. Yes we can.

"Bachelor in Paradise" star Grant Kemp officially -- and finally -- removed his ex from his life ... with the stroke of a needle.

We're told Grant Kemp on Sunday hit up Black Heart Tattoo in San Fran where artist Moses Saarni inked over the old "Grace" tattoo -- a combination of his and 'BiP' ex Lace Morris' names.

You'll recall Grant and Lace got their tattoos on the show before he proposed in the season finale ... and promptly broke up 3 months later.

Grant's new tat -- a black rose -- sends a clear message: You're dead to me. Also, I made a huge mistake. Far as we know, Lace still has her ink.

We're guessing it'll be gone before sundown.

'Bachelor' star Corinne Olympios is getting some help in the villain department ... from the show's producers, according to Corinne's mom.

Corinne's mom, Peri, told us the show went all-out to push Corinne into the bad girl role -- and she gave up some specific examples ... including Nick Viall's now infamous run-in with the whipped cream.

Peri also called out all the 'Bachelor' fans taking shots at her daughter. Apparently, they've dug up Peri's phone number ... something she's not going to let slide.

Mama Olympios doesn't play either.

"The Bachelor" star/villain Corinne Olympios was at it again Monday, wearing a flasher-style trench coat while trying to seduce Nick Viall with whipped cream on her cleavage ... it didn't work at all.

Nick gets all, "I-gotta-respect-the-other-girls" on her ... totally humiliating. She was so pissed she skipped the whole rose thing.

Corinne may have a "platinum vagine" ... but still, she might wanna play a little less aggressively.