R.I.P Emina Smajlovic

HAMILTON, Ill. -- An Argyle man, who authorities here said fled the scene of a crash where a 6-year-old girl died Monday, now faces several counts of criminal charges.
Gary L. Mason, 42, is charged with a Class 1 felony aggravated leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury; a Class 2 felony leaving the scene of an accident; two Class 4 felonies of the same charge and a felony driving with a revoked license.

He also is charged with two misdemeanor counts of failure to render aid and one misdemeanor count of driving while revoked.

Mason appeared in Hancock County Circuit Court Thursday with his court-appointed public defender. He remains in jail on $125,000 bail.

Authorities said Emina Smajlovic, 6, was killed and four others injured in the crash near railroad tracks on Illinois 96 on the southern edge of Hamilton.

Illinois State Police said a trailer being towed by a pickup driven Mason broke free, crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by Lora L. Smajlovic, 30, of Hamilton.

Smajlovic and her passengers, Ann Leeper, 56, also of Hamilton and two other children ages 2 and 11, suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses reportedly told investigators Mason turned his pickup around shortly after the crash, drove by the site of Smajlovic's car, and left the scene. He later was arrested in Lee County.

Emina Smajlovic, authorities said, was in the back seat of the car with her siblings when the crash occurred.

A preliminary hearing on Mason's case is scheduled Jan. 6.

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• Emina
• Family Smajlovic
• Funeral
• Car Accident
• Hamilton
• Hamza
• Lory
• Darien
• Malik

[jackiecotten1]

emina was the sweetest little girl she is sorely misses and will be for ever we all love you sweetheart and miss you till we can all be together again please god take care of our little angel

[tigerdiablo666]

rest in peace emina! i will never forget you and i will always remember the sweet, beautiful, kind, compassionate little girl that you were! you are truly loved and missed by many.....but never forgotten! i love you sweet little angel!

[shelbiec152]

rest in peace emina we will all miss you and we loved you very much and i hope that the bastard who was the cause of your death burns forever in hell... love aunt jackie and cousin shelbie.

[2006mya]

the pain of losing my niece still hurt so deeply . i still miss her so much , i still go too bed at night crying , i still wake up crying knowing shes not here no more , i still dont understand why this happend? i know these QUESTIONS wont be answered until god is ready for me(us) to know ... lov and miss u mina , i think about u everyday ........... love aunt angelle 

[imbutchsowat1]

this is so sad. :( i'm sorry for your loss. i wish people would think before driving recklessly.

[XboxiMod]

This accident happend right next to my house. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[2006mya]

and your mommy and daddy loves you and miss you so deeply , and thank you for this video i watch it over and over , we all love you emina ,

[2006mya]

iam her aunt angelle , oh such a lost for us , i love when she would call me aunt angel and see that sparkle in her eyes , she always was playing , i used to ask her mina where u going now , outside aunt angelle she would say running by me , oh i miss her so much i cant believe shes not here any more , my heart aches for her , my family wont ever be the same , i know she in heaven with god , but i wasnt done with her here with us,

[TheMasoncouch]

srry to hear about this, im sure all hearts go out to your family, and rest in peace emina smajlovic

[jotunnorske]

She was a precious little jewel in the neighborhood. We absolutely loved it when she would show up on the doorstep looking to play. God in Heaven, please hold her close.