By RODNEY HART

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

HAMILTON, Ill. -- An Iowa man faces five felony charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash Monday morning in Hamilton.

Gary L. Mason, 42, was formally charged and appeared in Hancock County Court Tuesday. He is being held in the Hancock County Jail on $125,000 bond.

Authorities said a 6-year-old girl, Emina Smajlovic, was killed and four others injured in the crash near railroad tracks on Ill. 96 on the southern edge of Hamilton.

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

Mason faces one count of aggravated leaving the scene of a fatal accident, a Class 1 felony. He also faces another Class 2 felony of leaving the scene of an accident, two Class 4 felonies of leaving the scene of an accident and a felony charge of driving with a revoked license.

He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of failure to render aid at the scene of an accident and one misdemeanor driving with a revoked license count.

Suffering minor injuries in the Smajlovic vehicle were Ann Leeper, 56, of Hamilton, and children ages 2 and 11.

Witnesses said the truck turned around after the accident, drove by the damaged car and then left the scene. State troopers said Mason was not injured and was later found in Lee County, Iowa.

The crash took place at 11:10 a.m. Monday. The highway was closed for several hours and traffic rerouted to Tower Road.

Mason is being represented by court-appointed Public Defender Cam Miller and has another court appearance scheduled for Thursday.

-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370