Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Fatal Drunk, High Crash

A Hudson Valley man who was accused of being high, drunk and speeding when he crashed his truck killing his passenger is heading to prison.

On Monday in Orange County Court, 29-year-old James Black of Kingston was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison in connection with the death of a 37-year-old man who was a passenger in Black’s pick-up truck on December 22, 2016.

In October, Black pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter. Black admitted that his truck left the road on Quaker Street in the Town of Newburgh and collided into a tree, killing his passenger.

At the time of the crash, Black was accused of speeding and being under the combined influence of alcohol and marijuana. His indictment alleged his blood-alcohol level was .19%.

“This case is yet another reminder of the deadly consequences of driving while intoxicated, which continue to devastate the lives of far too many victims, victims’ families, offenders and offenders’ families,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. “Deaths caused by intoxicated drivers are as tragic as they are preventable.  Those who drive while intoxicated, place the public, and themselves, at risk of death and other serious harm, and must be dealt with severely.”

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