A "father figure" accused of hitting his fiancé's child with a pickup truck was formally charged Monday after the tragic incident in Cedar Springs left a 3-year-old girl dead.

The crash happened Friday afternoon at Northland Mobile Home Estates in Cedar Springs, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office. 3-year-old Estella Marie Johnson was killed when she ran under the pickup truck driven by Daniel Bryant, 33.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Bryant, who police described as a "father figure" to Johnson, standing near her body with blood on his hands, police said in an affidavit of probable cause reviewed by MLive.

Bryant told authorities he and Johnson's sibling had just returned from another family member's home down the street when he told the toddler to run alongside the truck and "race" it, the affidavit stated. He drove the truck at 10mph until he heard Johnson's brother yell "Stop," soon realizing that the girl was trapped under the vehicle.

Bryant, who is engaged to Johnson's mother, Ashley Johnson, told another deputy the little girl was running on the driver's side of the car, up the middle of the street, when she "ran under the truck" while they were "just racing up the street," authorities said.

He also admitted to police that he consumes a half-gallon of alcohol every day, the affidavit stated.

Ashley was not home when her daughter was killed, and got the devastating call while at work, she told WOOD.

Court Proceedings

Bryant was arrested for reckless driving causing death. While on his way to Kent County Correctional Facility, deputies noted they smelled a strong alcohol odor on him that lingered in the patrol vehicle, the affidavit stated.

Bryant appeared in court on Monday, where D-63 District Court Judge Daniel O'Hara set his bond at $500,000. He is due to appear in court again on April 15.

If convicted, Bryant could face 25 years behind bars.

He remains in custody, and no attorney has been listed for him, according to jail records reviewed by the Daily Mail.

Community Impact

On March 21, Bryant shared photos of Johnson to his Facebook page while they dined at Burger King. "Lunch date with my favorite gal," he captioned the post.

Johnson has been remembered as someone "was a bright light" in the lives of all who knew her, according to a GoFundMe page.

Bryant is engaged to Johnson's mother, Ashley Johnson, who was not home at the time of the tragedy.

"We are heartbroken and trying to process this sudden loss and facing unimaginable pain, grief and shock."

She also "shared an especially unbreakable bond with her brother," her obituary read.

"She attended North Kent Head Start, where she "naturally took on a leadership role among her peers," the obituary detailed.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $20,000 had been raised to help the grieving family pay for Johnson's funeral expenses. A Meal Train donation page was also launched so the community could prepare food and bring it to the family.

What's Next

The case will be heard again on April 15 in District Court. If Bryant is convicted of reckless driving causing death, he could face up to 25 years in prison.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.