Sept. 18 – A Staten Island man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, accused of fatally wounding a pedestrian and injuring another while driving drunk last month.
According to a press release from Acting Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith, Rudolph E. Pacheco, 70, of Staten Island, was charged on a sealed indictment in Delaware County District Court on September 15.
A grand jury returned a nine-count indictment charging Pacheco with, among other things, felony counts of first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree assault, aggravated driving under the influence, reckless driving and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in death.
Pacheco is accused of operating a motor vehicle on New Kingston Road in the Town of Middletown on August 2 with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.18%. “As a result of his high level of intoxication, Pacheco pulled over to the side of the road and struck two elderly pedestrians – a man and woman who were walking,” the release said. Pacheco initially stopped after the crash, but then fled the scene until his car came to a stop about 12 miles away, the release said.
One of the pedestrians was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was transported to a hospital emergency room for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Delaware District Court Judge John L. Hubbard ordered that bail be set at $50,000 cash, $250,000 secured bond and $500,000 partial secured bond.
Pacheco entered a plea to all charges on September 15. A conference on the case is scheduled for October 10.
