ORANGE COUNTY, NY — Nicholle Hoke, a 45-year-old resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma, was sentenced on Tuesday to a prison term of four to twelve years for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide. This follows her guilty plea in the death of one person and serious injury of another caused by drunk driving in Newburgh, NY.
The incident, which occurred on June 24, 2023, around 10:00 PM, involved Hoke crashing her vehicle into another on Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh. She had been driving from a bar in New Paltz to her hotel. Subsequent blood tests conducted at St. Luke’s Hospital showed Hoke’s blood alcohol content was 0.16%, twice the legal limit.
During her plea, Hoke acknowledged her reckless driving led to the fatal crash. District Attorney David M. Hoovler credited the Newburgh Police and New York State Police for their roles in the investigation. “The significant sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and serves as a stern warning against drunk driving,” stated DA Hoovler.
