BLOOMINGTON — Monroe Circuit Court 9 Judge Darcie Fawcett sentenced a Bloomington man to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty in a negotiated plea deal.
Caleb Washburn admitted to hitting 50-year-old Stacy Lamb, of Bloomington, who was walking her dog when Washburn hit her with his car and killing her in June 2022.
Washburn pleaded guilty to one count of causing death when operating a motor vehicle while under a controlled substance, a Level 4 felony. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two other felony charges.
The Court sentenced Washburn to seven years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 365 days suspended to probation to be served on home detention. Washburn received credit for five days served. His driver’s license was suspended for 12 years. Upon successful completion of a clinically appropriate substance abuse treatment program, as determined by the Indiana Department of Corrections, the court shall consider a modification to his sentence.
According to police, Lamb was struck by Washburn’s vehicle at 8:45 p.m. while she was walking her dog near the Monroe County Airport on Airport Road near the intersection of Kirby Road. She was taken by ambulance to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Police say Washburn lives about two miles west of the crash site.
Washburn told officers the accident was unavoidable because he only saw Lamb after he looked up from his phone; by then, it was too late. He said Lamb was standing in the roadway on Airport Road when he hit her with his 2006 Pontiac Vibe.
However, another driver who witnessed the accident told police he was traveling in front of Washburn and that Lamb had crossed Airport Road in front of him. As he drove away, he saw a car in his rearview mirror go from the lane behind him into the oncoming lane and then into the grassy area where Lamb was standing, striking her.
Washburn tested positive for opioids. Charges were filed on January 3, 2023. Washburn was charged with two counts of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a controlled substance and one count of causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He posted a cash bond and was released from jail.
