Special prosecutor drops charges in fatal hit-and-run

Updates in a hit-and-run case that left an El Dorado man dead last year created a stir on social media yesterday evening when the News-Times first reported that charges had been dropped less than a month before the case was set to go to trial.

Charges against Ashley Woolsey-Winans, 27, of LouAnn in connection with a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of Donald Manning, Jr., 42, of El Dorado were dropped last week by special prosecutor Jack McQuary, a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Prosecution Coordinator Commission in Arkansas.

Last March, Manning was walking along the 1900 block of Arkansas 7 when he was struck by a southbound vehicle, causing fatal injuries. Woolsey-Winans was charged almost two months later with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in injury or death.

Typically, Jeffrey Rogers, prosecuting attorney for the 13th Judicial District, would handle a case such as this one; however, Rogers said a conflict between his office and the victim’s family necessitated bringing an outside prosecutor.

“What occurred was there was a complaint lodged that created an irreconcilable conflict between my office and the victim’s family. At that point, it was determined that we seek the appointment of a special prosecutor, which was approved,” Rogers said. “We sent it then to the Prosecutor Coordinator’s Office in Little Rock, who assigns an attorney to handle the cases that are under those circumstances.”

McQuary said once the case files were handed over to him, his say became the final word as far as any prosecutorial decisions. On Aug. 29, McQuary filed a motion to nolle prosequi the charges. Nolle prosequi is a Latin phrase used in legal settings meaning “refuse to pursue.”

The same day, Judge Hamilton Singleton granted the motion.

“As far as the criminal justice systems go, why completely destroy two individuals when it, in my opinion, was an accident,” McQuary said. “What people don’t sometimes understand is that every now and then, it really is just an accident. I hate to use the term ‘just’ there, because there was a loss of life, and there’s nothing worse than that. But sometimes it boils down to it was an accident.”

McQuary said Woolsey-Winans believed she had hit a deer that morning. According to an Arkansas State Police fatal crash report, Manning was hit at 5:30 a.m. on March 11, 2018. The ASP report says conditions were clear and dry at the time, but McQuary said it was “raining cats and dogs” where the accident occurred.

McQuary noted that Arkansas code does not require intent to convict someone of a traffic offense, meaning that even an accident could be criminal if it occurs while one is operating a vehicle. However, he said that even had he won the case, Woolsey-Winans was unlikely to serve time. She faced up to six years in state prison if convicted.

“In reality, I don’t think this lady, even if I had proceeded with it and possibly could have won this trial – it would have blown my mind if she had been sentenced to any time on it,” McQuary said. “To be honest with you, I don’t think I’d have ever gotten a conviction.”

Manning’s brother DeWayne King said that wouldn’t have mattered to him.

“Give her the whole six years. If she couldn’t do the whole six years and she was going to get probation, it should be a long probation. At the very least, give her a ticket, suspend her license, something,” King said. “Something.”

Originally from El Dorado, Manning was living in Springdale with his wife, Teresa Manning, and two of his six children, several of whom are adults. Manning was about to start his own lawn care business, Teresa said.

“I’m extremely upset about it,” she said. “My ideal outcome – there isn’t one. He’ll never be here again.”

Editor’s note: The News-Times has spoken to several members of Manning’s family. A follow-up story is being prepared for the weekend.

Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].

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