Prison For Pot-Smoking Driver Who Paralyzed Teen: Orange County DA

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A Pine Bush man was sentenced Tuesday to 3-9 years in prison for a crash in 2023 that paralyzed one person and severely injured another, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced.

Chauncey Smith, 23, had pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to aggravated vehicular assault for
crashing his vehicle into another car while impaired by marijuana.

Hoovler said the teenaged victim who was paralyzed as a result of the crash, spoke at sentencing about the impact Smith's driving had on his life.

On Aug. 14, 2023, Smith was westbound on State Route 17K in the Town of Newburgh when his
vehicle crossed over the double yellow line dividing traffic and he crashed head-on into a
vehicle that was travelling east.

A 15-year-old inside the other vehicle sustained injuries which resulted in the child being rendered paralyzed. Another occupant sustained serious physical injury, prosecutors said.

Smith admitted to the police that he had smoked marijuana, and a subsequent analysis of his blood confirmed its presence, prosecutors said.

“The lives of the innocent victims in this case were unfairly altered as a result of the defendant’s
selfish actions,” Hoovler said. “This case highlights the devastating consequences of drug-impaired driving. I cannot stress enough that drugs and alcohol are dangerous and deadly companions to driving. My Office will continue to vigorously pursue justice for victims of vehicular crimes, and such behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”

Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh Police Department and the New York State Police for the investigation.