Driver Faces Murder Charge After Wrong-Way Crash On I-287

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A Westchester County grand jury has handed up an indictment in the fatal wrong-way crash on I-287 in January.

Jaime Paucar of Amawalk faces eight felony and seven misdemeanor charges including murder and driving while intoxicated. Prosecutors said the 50-year-old was driving his Jeep westbound in the left eastbound lane of Interstate-287 in Harrison when he crashed head on into a 2018 BMW

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.

On Tuesday, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced the 15 counts in the indictment:

Felonies

• 2 counts Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony
• 3 counts Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a class B felony
• 2 counts Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony
• 1 count Assault in the Second Degree a class D felony

Misdemeanors

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

When Paucar was arraigned Tuesday before Westchester County Court Judge Anne Minihan, she 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.

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.

SEE:

• Ardsley Mourns 2 Dead In Wrong-Way Crash
• Cops ID 2 Dead In Wrong-Way Crash On I-287