Nicholle Hoke Previously Admitted to Killing One and Seriously Injuring Another While Driving Drunk

 Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Nicholle Hoke, age 45, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, was sentenced in Orange County Court to four (4) to twelve (12) years in prison as it relates to her previously plea of guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide.

As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on June 24, 2023 at approximately 10:00 p.m., Hoke crashed her vehicle into another vehicle on Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh.  As a result, one passenger in the other vehicle was killed and another suffered serious physical injury.  Hoke told police that she was driving to her hotel from a bar in New Paltz where she was drinking.  A warrant was signed for blood drawn from Hoke at St. Luke’s hospital, which revealed her blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit at 0.16%.  At the plea proceedings, Hoke admitted that she engaged in reckless driving and caused the death of one person and the serious physical injury of another while having over a 0.08% blood alcohol content. 

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Hoke.  District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the New York State Police for their assistance in the investigation.

“In a moment, the defendant’s callous actions stole the life of one innocent person, and forever changed the life of another,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The significant sentence imposed in this case should stand as a warning to those who might consider making the same criminal choices this defendant made.  Incidents such as this one are not accidents, they are serious crimes and perpetrators must be held accountable.  My Office will continue to seek significant sentences in drunk driving cases, particularly ones that result in injury or death to others.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tanja Beemer.

This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.