Crash case elevates to felony level

SANDPOINT — A Cocolalla man accused of striking a youngster at a bus stop last fall is now facing a felony charge, court records show.

Jason Dwight Newsome is charged with leaving the scene of an injury collision. A preliminary hearing on the charge is set for Jan. 24 in Bonner County Magistrate Court.

Newsome, 37, is free on his own recognizance while the charge is pending.

Newsome was originally being prosecuted at the misdemeanor level in connection with the October 2017 collision on Gun Club Road in Sagle. He faces an additional charge of driving without privileges.

The 7-year-old boy’s family told Idaho State Police that Newsome delivered the boy to their home and allegedly admitted that he struck the boy accidentally. However, he left without providing any further information. The boy reportedly suffered a broken leg, in addition to numerous abrasions to his legs and feet.

Newsome became a suspect in the incident after his wife allegedly called Bonner General Health to report hitting the child, according to court documents.

The woman, however, declined to cooperate with the investigation, prompting a trooper to warn the couple that they would charged with obstructing a law officer unless they cooperated, court records show.

“Newsome said it was dark and foggy and he did not realize he hit (the boy) until he heard screaming,” Trooper Kirk Mattila said in a probable cause affidavit.

Blood was plainly visible on the driver’s seat in the cab of Newsome’s pickup truck, the affidavit said. Blood was also visible on the carpeting and on a floor mat beneath the seat.

Under Idaho law, motorists involved in crashes in which another person is injured or killed are obligated to remain at the scene and produce their driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. They are also required render aid by summoning paramedics or even taking the injured party to a medical facility if need be.

Those convicted of failing to uphold those obligations risk a prison term of up to five years, a $5,000 fine and a one-year license revocation, according to Idaho Code.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.