HONESDALE, PA – The preliminary hearing of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Karson Mashatt case was held at the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale on Friday afternoon, March 8, with the Honorable Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Dunsinger at the bench. 

Mashatt has 12 charges against her - four felonies, four misdemeanors and four summary offenses which include Homicide by Vehicle and homicide by Vehicle while DUI. 

The charges came forward a couple of months after Mashatt’s husband, Travis Canfield, died after he was thrown from the side-by-side vehicle she was driving before getting hit by another car in November on Callicoon Road. The crash occurred as a 2019 Polaris Razr UTV was traveling east on Callicoon Road and left the roadway, struck a guardrail and rolled across both lanes of traffic, according to a criminal affidavit. According to court paperwork, Mashatt’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit at .227. 

Mashatt will be formally arraigned on Thursday, April 11 at 9:00 a.m. in the Historic Courtroom on the third floor of the Wayne County Courthouse. The preliminary arraignment occurred on Friday, February 9 and Mashatt was released on $25,000 bail. At the formal arraignment, she will enter a formal plea of guilty or not guilty. 

The preliminary case allowed for the Wayne County District Attorney (DA) A.G. Howell to present evidence against Mashatt, who was represented by Kathleen Martin, Esquire. The arresting officer in the case, George Weitz, took the stand and was questioned by both DA Howell and Martin. 

Evidence presented

Evidence that was presented was video surveillance from the Eagle View Saloon at 2923 Hancock Hwy in Equinunk, PA which is less than a mile from the crash site. The video clearly shows Mashatt and Canfield getting into the UTV and Mashatt getting into the driver’s side before leaving at 10:41 p.m., according to Weitz. 

The second form of evidence to be presented was collision analysis and a reconstruction report. Weitz said it was determined that there were no environmental, roadway or mechanical issues present following these reports. The defendant’s blood alcohol level was also presented as evidence, which Weitz said was done at 1:18 a.m. on November 5. 

Weitz said that he arrived on the scene at 11:28 p.m. on November 4 after the crash occurred at 11:03 p.m. He said that the initial conclusion made was that Canfield was the operator of the vehicle as the initial autopsy said he was the operator. The video surveillance is what Weitz said was what determined Mashatt to be the driver.

Weitz said he saw Mashatt being treated by Damascus EMS near the roadway. He said that four young individuals were in a minivan that struck Canfield on the road as they were traveling east back home. He said that the driver of the vehicle, Nathan Box, noticed he had hit something but did not know it was a pedestrian. 

“He was very distraught,” said Weitz, “but there was no alcohol or drug use present.”

Weitz said that the individuals in the minivan were advised to leave the scene but two of them came back after speaking with their parents. 

In her closing arguments, Martin said that there is no clear evidence of Mashatt entering the driver’s side of the UTV or of Canfield entering the passenger’s side. 

“You have to prove that Karson caused the death of Travis,” she said. “There is no clear evidence that the death was caused by the UTV crash and you are unable to make that determination. The cause of death for Travis was after he was struck by the van.”

She said that you cannot prove that Karson was driving during the timeframe of leaving the bar and the crash. 

DA Howell rebutted Martin in his closing arguments, saying that the video evidence and testimony from Weitz clearly show Mashatt as the driver. 

“Every crime or incidence has consequences,” Howell said. “The objective facts are very clear… there is zero evidence that anyone changed spots from leaving the bar to the crash site. There is clear and convincing evidence that Karson was impaired, three times the legal limit. 

“Any driver cannot avoid consequences of actions by saying she wasn’t the cause of death,” Howell continued. “She started the chain of events by drinking alcohol, driving and hitting a guardrail which threw Travis from the vehicle. Mrs. Canfield caused this and the 12 counts should be bound over by county court and this case should proceed.”