LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Lancaster County man will spend up to 20 years in jail for pleading guilty to killing a 63-year-old woman and seriously injuring another victim when he caused a car crash.
William Vaughan-Geib, 30, Manheim Township, was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison by Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Conrad after entering a negotiated guilty plea on two dockets, the homicide by vehicle while DUI and a previous DUI that occurred two months earlier.
On December 29, 2022, Vaughan-Geib caused a crash in East Lampeter Township while driving under the influence of marijuana that killed Carole Stockdale, 63, and seriously injured a second victim.
“I hope that the defendant’s sentence serves as a deterrent to others who would get behind the wheel after using drugs,” said First Assistant District Attorney Travis Anderson.
According to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office, Vaughan-Geib's 2017 Ford Escape was traveling eastbound, crossed over the solid double yellow line, and struck a 2016 Mazda CX5 nearly head-on.
Stockdale, a passenger in the Mazda, was declared dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Mazda was extracted from the car and transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Subsequent search warrants on Vaughan-Geib’s vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia and marijuana. A blood sample from Vaughan-Geib revealed the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
It was also determined the defendant was traveling 65 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone.
Stockdale’s husband and the surviving victim spoke at the guilty plea hearing and offered forgiveness to Vaughan-Geib.
“Seeing forgiveness like that, on these charges, doesn’t happen every day,” Judge Conrad said before accepting the guilty plea.
Vaughan-Geib must also pay $33,589 in restitution.
