GOSHEN – A Port Jervis man was arraigned Dec. 23 in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with multiple felonies, including vehicular homicide.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said Liam McNichol, 25, of Port Jervis, was indicted in connection with a fatal drunk driving crash April 25 on Interstate 84 in the Town of Newburgh.
According to documents filed and statements made in court, members of the state police saw a vehicle allegedly driven by McNichol speeding on Route 9W in the town of Newburgh at approximately 3:40 a.m. on April 25, 2025, and tried to initiate a traffic stop.
Instead of complying, McNichol allegedly drove the vehicle onto I-84 and accelerated to speeds in excess of 110 mph.
McNichol tried to drive between vehicles in each lane. He struck one of those vehicles. That sent his own car into a roll which ejected its passenger, authorities said.
McNichol got out of his car and tried to flee, but was taken into custody.
An analysis of McNichol’s blood later showed a blood alcohol content of 0.18 percent and the presence of drugs.
McNichol’s passenger, who was not further identified, died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash, police said.
McNichol was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and first-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, all felonies.
After his arraignment, McNichol was sent to Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, $1 million fully secured bond or $1.5 million partially secured bond, pending a conference on Jan. 6.
“The combination of alcohol, drugs and driving is perilous, criminal and, as is allegedly seen in this case, deadly,” Hoovler said in a statement released by his office. “Our roads are a shared resource and we all rightfully expect to travel free from the presence of impaired or intoxicated drivers.”
The name of McNichol’s attorney was not immediately available.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Port Jervis man indicted for vehicular homicide in April I-84 crash
Reporting by Mike Randall, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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