A Vadnais Heights woman was charged Monday in a hit-and-run accident that left a 92-year-old motorcyclist dead last week.
Autumn Mason, 26, was charged with criminal vehicular homicide in Ramsey County District Court after she allegedly struck lifelong East Sider Roy Kromschroeder with her sport-utility vehicle on Friday morning as he rode his motorcycle through a St. Paul intersection. He died later that day.
According to the charges, Mason, in her 2000 Dodge Durango, stopped and then proceeded east through the four-stop intersection at Prosperity and Ivy avenues when she hit Kromschroeder, who had stopped on his 2003 Honda Road Start motorcycle and then headed north through the intersection.
The accident happened around 7:45 a.m. Mason left the scene after the collision.
The collision caused Kromschroeder's helmet to fly off and Mason's front license plate to dislodge. The plate was found on top of the motorcycle.
A witness said it appeared Mason and Kromschroeder arrived at the intersection at the same time. Both waited for the other to go first. Kromschroeder started through and Mason accelerated rapidly at the same time, giving the impression that Mason had become impatient, the witness said.
Another witness who was stopped behind Mason said he wasn't sure whether Mason had stopped at the sign or had seen the motorcycle. He said Mason stopped her vehicle, got out and checked on Kromschroeder, then quickly drove away.
Mason agreed to have her blood drawn as part of the investigation. On Friday, St. Paul police said there was no information indicating that Mason had possibly been drinking.
