http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1997/Oct-10-Fri-1997/news/6212764.html

Associated Press

CARSON CITY -- A Nevada Highway Patrol accident expert testified Thursday that a local lawyer charged in a fatal hit-and-run case may never have seen the victim, but should have known she hit something.

Trooper Michael Del Sodato testified in the trial of Audrey Damonte, 33, charged with driving away after hitting and killing a pedestrian who ran across North Carson Street on a rainy night last December.

Damonte briefly stopped after hitting Don Ferris, 42, but Del Sodato said she wouldn't have been able to see his body in the rear view mirrors or by opening her car door to look back before driving off.

But the officer also said Damonte's car should have been jolted by the impact and by running over the 210-pound victim, who was drunk and was wearing dark clothing. Del Sodato's testimony followed testimony from two bartenders who said Damonte had 1 1/2 drinks at their bar but wasn't intoxicated.

http://www.tahoe.com/appeal/archive/stories.3.14.97/news/1a1damonafter14Mar7994.html

Maddox pointed out Damonte did stop and look around at the scene. She didn't see anything and heard only what she thought to be a slap on the hood of her vehicle, he said.

Damonte saw very little because the weather was poor, her windshield wipers were on, there was oncoming traffic, Ferris was wearing dark clothing, the impact sent the body underneath the vehicle within a second and at no time did her tires run over the body, Maddox said.

Damonte would not be able to see the body from her seat, said a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who reconstructed the accident scene, during the hearing.


http://www.tahoe.com/appeal/archive/stories.5.9.97/news/1a1damon5801Jan2871.html


Waters successfully argued Thursday Damonte was aware she had been involved in an accident but did not stay long enough to find out the extent of the problem. He said there was enough evidence to bind her over for trial.

Christensen mentioned evidence that the 205-pound body was dragged about 33 feet underneath the vehicle could have pointed to knowledge of an accident.

Waters also argued Damonte knew she hit something because of a bent bug guard and crumpled hood on her vehicle. He said she did not need to know she had hurt someone but had a duty to stop, render aid and give information after the accident.