Driver Who Had 'Blue Substance' In Nose Gets Prison For Car Crash

GOSHEN, NY — An Orange County man whose decisions caused immense suffering will go to prison as a result of a horrific crash.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 31-year-old Nicholas Cicio, of Newburgh, was sentenced on Wednesday to one and one-third to four years in prison after his previous guilty plea to first-degree vehicular assault.

According to court documents, on January 18, 2024, police were dispatched to the Pulaski Highway in the Town of Goshen for a serious two-vehicle car crash.

Officers identified Cicio as one of the drivers and noticed a blue, powdery substance in his nose and other signs of impairment. He failed standardized field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test was negative for alcohol. A drug recognition expert concluded that Cicio was unable to safely drive a vehicle due to impairment.

An analysis of Cicio's blood found the presence of several controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine, alprazolam and hydrocodone.

An occupant in the other vehicle involved in the crash received serious injuries which required extended hospitalization, surgery and physical therapy for a fractured wrist and fractured pelvis, according to the DA.

During plea proceedings, Cicio admitted to causing serious physical injury to another person by driving a vehicle while impaired by a drug.

Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Cicio. He also thanked the Town of Goshen Police Department and the Town of Warwick Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

"Drugged driving is deadly driving and under no circumstances should anyone operate a motor vehicle while impaired," Hoovler said. "The victim in this case is forced to live with the consequences of this defendant’s selfish actions. Our roadways are a shared resource, but with that comes a shared responsibility to operate a motor vehicle safely. I commend the thorough investigation done by law enforcement in this case which helped to ensure this offender was held responsible for his crimes."