Man pleads guilty in meth-impaired crash that killed motorcyclist

The crash happened July 30, 2023, on Riggins Mill Road.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A 34-year-old man pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular homicide in connection with a 2023 crash that killed a motorcyclist, according to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Caleb Levi Hendrix entered the guilty plea Friday, August 14, in the death of Michael Burnett. A related charge of driving under the influence was merged into the vehicular homicide count as part of the plea.

The crash happened July 30, 2023, on Riggins Mill Road. According to prosecutors, Hendrix was driving a pickup truck south while Burnett was traveling north on a motorcycle when the two vehicles collided.

Burnett died at the scene.

The District Attorney’s Office said Hendrix told investigators that he saw Burnett’s motorcycle near the center line and that his brakes locked as he attempted to avoid it.

A sergeant trained as a drug recognition expert reported observing signs of impairment. Hendrix agreed to a blood draw, and testing later confirmed amphetamine and methamphetamine in his system.

Investigators said they found no physical evidence consistent with Hendrix’s account that his brakes locked. Instead, investigators found evidence indicating his truck briefly left the roadway before returning and striking Burnett’s motorcycle in Burnett’s lane.

According to prosecutors, investigators found no evidence that Burnett contributed to the crash.

Hendrix was sentenced to 15 years, with the first 10 years to be served in custody and credit for time served. The judge also ordered mandatory substance abuse treatment as a condition of his sentence.

Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard released the following statement:

“This defendant got behind the wheel of a truck with methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system, crossed into oncoming traffic, and killed Michael Burnett. Then he told investigators a story about locked brakes that the evidence at the scene simply did not support. Now a family is without someone they love. This crash shows exactly why driving under the influence of drugs is so dangerous.”