A man from Downs has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting fault in a car crash that killed a 71-year-old woman.
19-year-old Caleb Lawson was accused of causing the death of 71-year-old Alice Fulks, also from Downs, while driving under the influence. Authorities said Lawson veered into oncoming traffic on Oct. 18, 2025
and hit Fulks head-on after crossing the center line into the westbound lane of U.S. 150 near N. 2000 East Rd. outside Downs.
Police said Lawson attempted to flee the scene on foot but was taken into custody and then sent to a hospital.
Lawson was sentenced last week by McLean County Judge Don Knapp as part of a plea deal entered June 5 in which he admitted guilt to two felonies. Lawson received 10 years for aggravated driving under the influence involving a death, a Class 2 felony and two years for the Class 4 felony of leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, to be served consecutively. Additional charges were dropped as part of that deal.
Lawson was detained throughout the legal process and will receive credit for 318 days spent in jail following his arrest. He is required to serve at least 85% of the Class 2 felon and 50% of the Class 4 felony sentence, making him first eligible for release in roughly 8.5 years.
