Man Jailed Following Hudson Valley Crash That Killed 2 Women

A bride-to-be who was looking at her possible wedding venue in the Hudson Valley and her friend were killed when a man crashed into a local home while allegedly driving high and drunk.

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On Thursday in Orange County Court, 32-year-old Christopher Perrella of New Jersey was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison following his guilty plea to aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of two women, who were passengers in a car that Perrella was driving in Orange County.

On Nov. 4, 2017, Perrella was driving a car with his girlfriend, a male friend and that friend's fiancee. Both women were killed when the car crashed into a house on Glenwood Road in the Town of Warwick.

The two women, 36-year-old Emily Carwile and Jessica Dussault, both from New Jersey, were thrown from the car during the crash.

Perrella was driving a two-door topless convertible which turned over, according to police. He was accused of driving while his ability to operate the car impaired by both alcohol and marijuana

“Cases involving fatalities caused by impaired drivers demand severe state prison sentences,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. “What should have been a trip planning one of the most joyous events in life, turned into a tragedy because of this defendant’s decision to drive while intoxicated. Fatalities like this are as tragic as they are preventable. I hope that this resolution brings some measure of closure to the families of both of the deceased women.”

The two couples visited a possible wedding venue in the Town of Warwick, officials say.