Robert L. Langley Jr.
Sheriff of Putnam County
News Release
IMPAIRED DRIVER WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR CRASHES INTO RESERVOIR
Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley Jr. reports the arrest of a Pleasant Valley woman for violating Leandra’s Law after driving her vehicle into a reservoir. On July 18, 2019, at approximately 5:34 p.m., Deputy Matthew Shelters and Deputy Jonathan Bradley were dispatched, by Putnam County 911, to a call of a one-car Motor Vehicle Accident – car into a reservoir, in the area of Fishkill Road, in the Town of Philipstown. Upon arrival, the deputies observed the vehicle semi-submerged in the reservoir and all occupants, including two children, ages 6 and 9, outside of the vehicle. A subsequent investigation revealed that the vehicle’s driver, Ms. Ellexis Hoerl, age 23, of Pleasant Valley, who was babysitting the two children, was allegedly impaired by drugs when she crashed through a guardrail and went off a retaining wall into the reservoir. The children, who are siblings, were evaluated at a nearby hospital and released, without injury, to their parents. Ms. Hoerl was also found to be in possession of Concentrated Cannabis and Amphetamine Dextroamphetamine (Adderall). Deputy Shelters placed Ms. Hoerl under arrest. She was charged with two counts of Felony DWI under Leandra’s Law, One Count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Ms. Hoerl was held for arraignment.
