Defendant: Jaime Paucar (DOB 10/28/69)

Aug. 18, 2020 – Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced Jaime Paucar of Amawalk was indicted for murder and other charges in the wrong-way crash on I-287, which caused the death of two Ardsley residents, Jordan Wachtell and his son’s friend, 17-year-old Eric Goldberg in January. Paucar was indicted by a Westchester County Grand Jury on 15 counts as follows:

Felonies:

  • Two counts Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony
  • Three counts Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a class B felony
  • Two counts Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony
  • One count Assault in the Second Degree a class D felony

Misdemeanors:

  • One count Assault in the Third Degree
  • One count Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated
  • Two counts of Driving While Intoxicated
  • One count Reckless Driving
  • One count Leaving the Scene without Reporting: Property Damage
  • One count Leaving the Scene without Reporting: Personal Injury

He was arraigned today 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.

Background
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.

Prior to this 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.


Paucar’s license was suspended earlier.

Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Strongin, Deputy Chief of the Career Criminal Bureau, and John Astarita, both of the Supreme Court Trial Division, are prosecuting the case.

 In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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