WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio"She was a very strong little girl"

"She was a very strong little girl"

CARTHAGE (WGEM) -- It was an emotional day at the Hancock County Courthouse as the man accused of killing a 6-year-old girl in a hit and run accident appeared in court.

A preliminary hearing was set today for Gary Mason.  The 42-year-old is charged with fleeing the scene of fatal accident after a crash near Hamilton on December 28th, which claimed the life of Emina Smajlovic.

With pictures, signs and banners family and friends of Emina Smajlovic packed the Hancock County Courthouse--and for the first time, saw the man accused of causing the accident that took the young girl's life.

"He took her life," said one man. "He ran like a dog and left her there to die."

Emina's parents, Hamza and Lora, also attended--and while they remained calm in the courtroom, they had an outburst of emotion after the proceedings.

Police say Gary Mason was pulling a makeshift trailer on Highway 96 near Hamilton when the trailer detached, crossed the center line, and collided with the car being driven by Lora Smajlovic--killing Emina, who was riding in the backseat.

Emina's brothers, 2-year-old Malik and 11-year-old Darien, were also in the car.

"Darien, he was a hero," said Harris Smajlovic, the uncle of Emina and her brothers. "I can't say how hard it was for him. He was the first one to make it out of the car, and he pulled the baby, Malik, he pulled him out of the car first. He went back and pulled Emina out. I think he's probably taking it the hardest--there was things that a little boy, an 11-year-old boy, should just not see--but he was very brave. "

Mason is being held on $125,000 bond.  In a statement, Mason's attorney said his client is "very remorseful," but declined further comment.

A preliminary hearing for Gary Mason is set for January 6th at 11 am.

Meanwhile, funeral services for Emina Smajlovic were held today immediately following today's court proceedings.

Family members also took time to remember the young girl killed in that tragic crash.

"She was just a very, very precious child," said Harris Smajlovic, Emina's uncle.  "She was a daredevil. She did go rock climbing. She made it all the way to the top of the tower. We were very proud of her, and she boasted about it all the time.

"She was very wild. She loved climbing a tree--there's a big pine tree in front of our house, and she would just climb it all day long, and we'd be pulling our hair out, all day long, just trying to keep her off of it.

"She was big into science. She always said that she wanted to be a shark hunter. She hated fish.

"We had visitation last night. It was kind of a private, family-only, and it helped. I mean, we haven't seen her in a couple of days, and just seeing her beautiful face again helped.

"The only thing that I can ask is for everybody to be strong. Be strong for her--she was a very strong little girl. I guess when God has a time for you, it just has to happen."

Emina's mother, brothers and another adult passenger were also injured in the crash...but have since been released from the hospital.