EXCLUSIVE: Nick Viall Speaks Out Following Chris Soules' Car Crash: 'It's Surreal'
Nick Viall is "wishing the best" for Chris Soules.
ET caught up with the former Bachelor star at the 24th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Friday, where he opened up about the fatal accident Soules was involved in last month in Aurora, Iowa.
WATCH: Chris Soules 'Acted Reasonably' in Aftermath of Fatal Car Crash, His Lawyers Say
Viall told ET's Lauren Zima that he has not yet spoken to Soules, but is "praying" for the Iowa native and his family at this time. As fans of Bachelor nation know, the two have remained close pals since vying for Andi Dorfman's heart on season 10 of The Bachelorette.
"My reaction was obviously the same as everyone else, which is just that it's a terrible tragedy," the 36-year-old founder of The Polished Gent explained. "More than anything I'm just praying for the gentleman that passed away [Kenneth Mosher] and their family and just wishing the best for everyone involved."
"I've kind of let things be," he continued. "It's kind of a surreal thing right now. I think it's best for everyone to just pray for the people involved and that's all they can do that will be beneficial at this point."
Viall attended the charity event with fiancée Vanessa Grimaldi, who walked the red carpet in a gorgeous white dress and nude pointy-toe stilettos.
"[It's a] very fancy, very formal date night," Viall said of their night out at the celebrity spectacular gala, which helped raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis. "It's fun and it's for a great cause which is the most important part."
"MS is something that plagues a lot of people," he added. "It's something we can do by giving our time, and sometimes money, to continue to help fight that fight. Any time we have an opportunity to do that, it's great."
As ET previously reported, Soules was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado when he struck the rear of a John Deere tractor, operated by Kenneth Mosher, the 66-year-old farmer who was killed as a result of the crash.
According to a statement previously obtained by ET from the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, they received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident at approximately 8:20 p.m. Soules was the one who initially reported the incident to 911, identifying himself as "Chris Soules" during the call. He allegedly fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, and was later arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Motor Vehicle Accident (Class D Felony). The judge gave Soules a $10,000 bail, which was posted by his mother, Linda.
Watch the video below to hear the latest update on the case, and everything we know so far about what happened.