A man accused of killing a woman by crashing his car into her home while driving under the influence has died by suicide. William Bart Stuart, 53, took his own life on July 9, 2026, in Reno, Nevada, just weeks before he was scheduled to stand trial in Montana for the death of 69-year-old Terry Lamping.
Stuart had been charged with felony vehicular homicide while under the influence, felony criminal endangerment, and felony fleeing or eluding a peace officer. Court documents indicated he had consumed between 14 and 15 alcoholic drinks before the incident in November 2025. He allegedly fled a traffic stop and reached speeds of 115 mph before crashing into Lamping's East Helena home. Terry Lamping was pronounced dead at the scene, and her 76-year-old husband, Philip, sustained extensive injuries, including a brain bleed and fractured vertebra.
Stuart was out on a $500,000 bond at the time of his death. Conditions of his release required him to wear a 24/7 alcohol monitoring device, refrain from driving, and avoid entering bars or leaving Lewis and Clark County. He also faced a civil lawsuit from Philip Lamping.
Authorities located Stuart in Reno, Nevada, on July 9 after he failed to appear for a pre-trial conference on July 8, leading to a no-bond warrant for his arrest. Reno Police reported hearing a gunshot after surrounding his vehicle. An investigation later determined his death to be a suicide.
Stuart had prior convictions for driving under the influence in 1996, 1997, 2003, and 2010, which resulted in jail time and license suspensions. His charges were dismissed following his death, as no accused can stand trial.