Trial date is set for man accused of running down blind pedestrian at busy intersection
WILLMAR -- A jury trial has been set May 26 for the Willmar man accused of running his vehicle over a blind man Nov. 16 at the intersection of First Street South and 19th Avenue.
Gary Lee Mattson, 56, appeared Tuesday in Kandiyohi County District Court. He faces three misdemeanor charges for the incident that left Thomas Dennis Sykora, 58, of Willmar, with numerous broken ribs, plus a broken scapula, or shoulder blade, and a broken ankle that required surgery to repair.
Sykora was taken to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar and was later airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital. He spent four weeks in that hospital and is now at home and recovering, according to his page at the caringbridge.org Web site.
In addition to the jury trial date, a settlement conference was also scheduled for May 24. Both hearings are before Judge Michael J. Thompson.
Mattson has entered a not guilty plea to the charges, for failure to stop for a blind person, failure to stop for a traffic control signal and failing to give information after a traffic accident.
