WHITE PLAINS – Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. announced Tuesday that 51-year-old Jaime Paucar of Amawalk was indicted for murder and other charges resulting from the January 30, 2020, wrong-way crash on I-287. The crash caused the death of two Ardsley residents, Jordan Wachtell and his son’s friend, 17-year-old Eric Goldberg. Paucar was indicted by a Westchester County Grand Jury on eight felonies including two counts of murder, three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of manslaughter, and one count of assault.
The defendant also faces misdemeanor charges of assault 3, aggravated DWI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a property damage accident without reporting, and one count of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident without reporting. Paucar also faces two misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated.
On Jan. 30, 2020, prosecutors allege, Jaime Paucar drove his Jeep westbound in the left eastbound lane of Interstate-287 in Harrison. He crashed head on into a 2018 BMW, which was occupied by four people. As a result, the BMW driver, 57-year-old Jordan Wachtell, and a 17-year-old passenger, Eric Goldberg, who was sitting in the driver’s side back seat, were killed. Wachtell was taking his son and two others, including Goldberg, to a basketball game. All of them were from Ardsley.
District Attorney Scarpino said evidence indicates that “Prior to the fatal collision, Paucar had been driving the correct direction on I-287 when he crashed into another vehicle. After leaving the scene of that collision and exiting I-287, Paucar re-entered I-287 heading westbound in the eastbound lanes. For the next two and a half miles, Paucar caused three more collisions before ultimately striking the BMW head on. The final crash caused the Jeep to roll over and come to rest in the center median. Paucar, who was alone in his vehicle, was taken to the hospital as were the two surviving BMW passengers. Paucar’s blood alcohol content was more than two times the legal limit.”
He was arraigned Tuesday before Westchester County Court Judge Anne Minihan, who set bail at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $1,000,000 partially secured bond. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2020.
