NEWBURGH, NY — A Port Jervis man has been indicted on multiple charges including aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal crash that occurred during a police pursuit in April.
Liam F. McNichol was indicted by an Orange County Grand Jury on Dec. 19.
McNichol turned himself in on Dec. 23, at which time he was arrested and charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter in the 2nd degree, a class D felony; vehicular manslaughter in the 1st degree, .18 of 1% or more alcohol in blood, a class C felony; aggravated vehicular homicide, .18 of 1% or more alcohol in blood, a class B felony; manslaughter in the 2nd degree, recklessly cause death, a class C felony; assault in the 1st degree, cause serious physical injury during a felony, a class B felony; and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the 1st degree, causing a person’s death, a class D felony.
McNichol was arraigned on Dec. 23 in Orange County Court and was remanded to the Orange County Jail.
Bail was set at $250,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond, or $1,500,000 partially secured bond.
McNichol is scheduled to return to Orange County Court on Jan. 6, 2026.
On April 25 at about 3:43 a.m., troopers patrolling on Route 9W in the town of Newburgh attempted to stop a 2015 GMC Sierra pickup truck after observing vehicle and traffic violations.
The driver of the pickup did not comply, and troopers initiated a pursuit, which traveled south on Route 9W to State Route 32 and then to I-84 westbound.
Troopers discontinued the pursuit because the suspect vehicle was traveling at dangerously high speeds.
A short time later, troopers discovered that the vehicle had crashed off the shoulder of the roadway.
The preliminary investigation determined that the suspect vehicle collided with a tractor without a trailer, the driver lost control of the pickup and crashed.
The passenger in the suspect vehicle, Phelipe Figueroa, 25, of Otisville, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh, where he died.
McNichol, 25, of Port Jervis, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital with minor injuries.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office was notified of the incident and responded.
State Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the SP Montgomery Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 845-344-5300.
