In the quiet,wards of Northern Clay County, Indiana, a devastating incident unfolded on the evening of August 17, 2025, shattering the peace of a small community and leaving a family in mourning. At approximately 7:40 p.m., on the intersection of County Road 1450 North and State Road 59, a vibrant life was tragically cut short. Samuel Chambers, a 48-year-old resident of Carbon, Indiana, was walking along the roadside, unaware that moments later, a catastrophic collision would claim his life.
Behind the wheel of a 2018 Honda was Courtney Withers, a 36-year-old local woman whose failure to notice Chambers in the dimming light led to a heart-wrenching outcome. The vehicle veered off the south side of the road after the impact, coming to a stop as the gravity of the moment began to unfold. Despite the swift response from emergency services, including the Starr Ambulance Service, Chambers sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clay County Coroner’s Office. The news sent ripples of grief through his family and the tight-knit community, who now gather to honor his memory.
As Indiana State Police Trooper Caleb Hughes dug deeper into the incident, a troubling picture emerged. Withers exhibited clear signs of impairment, stumbling through standard field sobriety tests, which she failed. A certified chemical test was administered, with results still pending, but the evidence pointed to a grim reality: impaired driving may have played a role in this senseless loss. Adding to the complexity of the situation, a child under 18 was in the vehicle with Withers, prompting a call to the Clay County Department of Child Services. Thankfully, the child was safely released to a family member, spared from further trauma.
Withers was arrested without incident and transported to the Clay County Jail, where she now faces serious charges: Causing Death While Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Level 4 Felony, and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated With a Passenger Under 18, a Level 6 Felony. These charges reflect the weight of her actions, which have forever altered the lives of those touched by this tragedy.
The investigation, led by Trooper Hughes and accident reconstructionist Trooper Rondell Shelton, was a collaborative effort, with support from the Putnamville State Police Post, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Clay County Coroner’s Office, and Starr Ambulance Service. Together, they are piecing together the details to uncover every factor that contributed to this devastating event. No mugshot of Withers has been released as the case continues to develop.
This heartbreaking crash serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians on rural roads. The Indiana State Police urge all drivers to remain vigilant and never operate a vehicle under the influence, emphasizing that such choices can lead to irreversible consequences. As the investigation presses on, authorities are committed to gathering every piece of evidence and interviewing witnesses to ensure justice for Samuel Chambers and his grieving loved ones.
The Clay County community now stands united in sorrow, reflecting on a life lost too soon and the profound impact of a single moment on a quiet Indiana road.