A blood test that shows a Sherwood man accused of causing a three-car collision that killed a 60-year-old woman had more than the legal limit of alcohol in his system was cleared to be used against him at trial Thursday by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Barry Sims.

Mack Louis Hinson III, 37, who also has an address in Hot Springs, is charged with negligent homicide, a Class B felony that carries up to 20 years in prison, in the October 2012 collision that killed 60-year-old Narjis Meti on Cantrell Road, near Sam Peck Road. He's scheduled to stand trial in August.

According to police, Hinson was eastbound in a 2012 white Toyota Prius when he sideswiped an eastbound 2009 Dodge pickup driven by Chad Mitchell, knocking the pickup into oncoming traffic where it collided with Meti's westbound green 2005 Mazda 6, killing the mother of three and grandmother of three.

Mitchell told police he had seen Hinson and the unidentified driver of a yellow sport utility vehicle arguing on the road near Pinnacle Valley Road, and had changed lanes to get out of the way as Hinson had come up behind them.

According to testimony Thursday from Ralph Brashears, the Little Rock police vehicular homicide investigator, Hinson became distraught after learning Meti was dead and volunteered to do "whatever I can do to help" the investigation.

Brashears said Hinson said he'd been driving the 45 mph speed limit. Police believe Hinson was driving about 70 mph when he struck Campbell's truck.

Brashears told Hinson he needed to give a blood sample and called for an ambulance with a paramedic to collect it. He then allowed Hinson to collect his belongings from the Prius and leave with his family, Brashears told the judge. He said he did not smell alcohol on Hinson or see any signs of intoxication.

The Arkansas Crime Laboratory test completed in December 2012 showed Hinson's blood-alcohol level was 0.12, which exceeds the state limit of 0.08. Brashears also said prescription medication was detected in his blood.

Defense attorney David Cannon argued that Brashears did not follow the proper procedure to acquire the sample and didn't inform Hinson about rights regarding blood tests.

Hinson testified that he did not know that he could refuse a test or require the blood be taken at a hospital.

"I never knew I had a choice," he said.

Metro on 06/06/2014