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Orange County resident Yeraldo Roa, age 35, of Port Jervis, pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter on Friday, Oct. 4, in a case where he was found to be driving at twice the legal limit.
According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, Roa admitted that he was intoxicated when he caused the death of an 11-year-old girl who had been a passenger in his car.
Court documents show Roa admitted that on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at about 8:30 p.m., he had a blood alcohol content of .20. more than twice the limit and that he drove his car across the double-yellow lines on Route 6, in the town of Woodbury, striking three oncoming vehicles before crashing head-on into a fourth vehicle.
Roa and his 11-year-old passenger were transported to Garnet Health Medical Center, where the girl was pronounced dead.
Occupants of the other vehicles were treated for injuries at St. Luke’s Hospital in Middletown.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Roa.
“Deaths such as this are as preventable as they are tragic,” said Hoovler. “My deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the family and loved ones of this exceptional girl, who lost her life because someone made a conscious decision to drink and drive."
Roa, who pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment, is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
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