Woman tests for meth in court

A Bishop, Calif., woman, accused of causing a traffic accident in December that seriously injured a Gardnerville man, was jailed Wednesday when she tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl set $100,000 cash bail for Susan Mann, 33, who is to appear in District Court Tuesday on a charge of driving with a prohibited amount of a controlled substance causing death or substantial bodily harm. If convicted, she faces two to six years in prison.

She wept in court as EnEarl revoked her probation during a preliminary hearing.

Her lawyer, Tod Young, said Mann dealt with the health issues and tragedy in her life with controlled substances.

"She was injured in an accident and her husband shot her and killed himself," Young said. "She struggles mightily every day just to move on. She has given in to temptation, to her addiction to deal with these issues."

Mann was arrested on the charge after a Dec. 22 traffic accident on Highway 395 near the Carson Valley Medical Center south of Gardnerville.

According to the Nevada High Patrol, Mann was traveling southbound and was observed by a Douglas County sheriff's deputy to be exceeding the speed limit. He signaled her to slow down, but she sped up, according to reports.

Witnesses said she used the center lane to pass several vehicles at speeds of 70- to 80-mph. She slammed into the rear of a vehicle driven by Robert McGraw, 64, of Gardnerville.

Both were taken by CareFlight to Washoe Medical Center.

"She pushed his van off the road and into a tree," said prosecutor Kris Brown. "He spent nine days in the hospital, he was in the intensive care unit. He suffered internal injuries, head injuries and fractures. His total prognosis isn't known at this time. That she would cause that accident, then go out and use again, she poses a total danger to the community."

Court proceedings were delayed while she recovered from her injuries.