Hudson Valley Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal Drunk Hit-And-Run

A Hudson Valley man pleaded guilty to a fatal hit-and-run he caused while drunk.

On Thursday in Orange County Court, 33-year-old Michael Rule of Pine Bush pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter.

On June 13, 31-year-old Luis DeJesus was hit by Rule’s car as DeJesus walked on Temple Hill Road near the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site. Responding officials found a man unconscious on the side of the road.

DeJesus was taken to St Luke’s Cornwall Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Rule fled the scene in his dented car. In the Town of Newburgh, a couple noticed Rule driving a car with extensive damage to his car.

The couple followed Rule for several miles and phoned in his license plate number to police. They continued to follow Rule, even after he got into the passenger seat of a car driven by another man, officials say.

Police arrested Rule in the second car. A blood test revealed his blood-alcohol level was .15%, almost twice the legal limit of intoxication. DNA evidence also linked Rule’s car to the deceased pedestrian.

“When someone decides to get drunk, and then get behind the wheel of a car, they endanger everyone else on the road, driver and pedestrian alike,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler stated. “My office will continue to seek significant sentences for those who injure or kill others while driving drunk.”

Rule is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.