District Attorney Hoovler Announces Guilty Verdict in Senseless Fatal Road Rage Case
Walden Man Convicted of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree and Assault in the Third Degree
Defendant Faces up to 5-15 Years in Prison on Manslaughter Charges and 7 Years on Assault Charges
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, August 7, 2023, Anthony Jones, age 26 of Walden, was convicted after a jury trial in the Orange County Court of all charges submitted to the jury, including Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. Jones faces up to five to fifteen (5-15) years in prison on the Manslaughter charges and seven (7) years on the Assault charges when he is sentenced on October 11, 2023. Jones was remanded to Orange County Jail without bail following the jury’s verdict.
As alleged at trial, on August 4, 2021 at approximately 7:00 p.m., Jones was the sole occupant and driver of a Ford Escapehe was operating eastbound on State Route 17 in the town of Wallkill between exits 118 and 119. Jones became angry at the driver of a van carrying eight people and he caused his car to collide with the van. The collision resulted in the deaths of three occupants of the van, including the driver, and serious physical injuries to four other occupants of the van. Another passenger in the van was also injured, although not as seriously. Jones was treated for complaints of pain, transported to a local hospital, and released. Jones was involved in another road rage incident in the Town of Crawford subsequent to the August, 2021 crash. The details of the subsequent incident were presented as evidence in the trial against Jones.
An investigation conducted by the New York State Police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office determined that the collision was the result of reckless and negligent actions by Jones, and that he was responsible for causing the collision. Jones was arrested by State Police on September 12, 2022.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Jones.
“This defendant made the tragic and consequential choice to recklessly use his vehicle as a deadly weapon,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “As a result, three lives were lost,and four others were seriously injured. My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of those who lost their livesin this incident and those whose lives have been forever altered by this collision. I applaud the dedicated work of the prosecutors who handled the case from investigation through to conviction. I thank the New York State Police, including the Collision Reconstruction Unit, for their untiring work on the investigation.”
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Senior Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs and Assistant District Attorney Peter Fernandez who prosecuted the case.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to afair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.