First a Plea in Flagger Case, Then Not So

The case of a local man charged with striking a flagger in a construction zone on Effingham's north side almost concluded Wednesday morning, then the defendant changed his mind.

20-year-old Zane Smart is charged with a felony count of being responsible for an accident that resulted in injury or death. The charge stems from an incident earlier this summer when Smart's vehicle allegedly struck a flagger working on the I-57/70 reconstruction project on North US 45, north of Technology Drive, then left the scene.

In court Wednesday, Smart began hearing the terms of a negotiated to which he had agreed and then asked for appointment of a public defender to represent him in the case. Until this point, Smart had represented himself in the case. 

The terms were 30 months probation including 180 days in jail with credit for 37 days served awaiting disposition of his case, and a fine of $500 plus court costs.

Smart is due back in court next Tuesday with his attorney as the process of deciding his case begins again.