Friday, Sep. 26, 2008

Man's trial set Nov. 17 in vehicular assault case

By Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer

A 32-year-old man agreed to delay his trial three weeks on allegations he used drugs shortly before his car struck a girl.

Tony N. Mason of Benton City is scheduled for trial Nov. 17 on one count of vehicular assault.

Sheriff's deputies found 11-year-old Amy L. Marshall "unresponsive and covered in blood" on May 17 after she was hit while walking home along Corral Creek Road. She was treated at a Seattle hospital for a head injury.

Mason told deputies that the sun was in his eyes when Marshall ran out in front of his 1990 Geo Storm, according to court documents.

He initially claimed that he had not used any drugs before the crash, then later admitted to using marijuana and methamphetamine within the last three days and taking four hydrocodone pills, documents said.

However, a drug recognition expert reportedly concluded that the use had been more recent.