Prosecutors: Reckless driving ticket refiled by police against driver facing $1K fine in fatal Woodbury crash
State police say 24-year-old Chaim Gordon was speeding on Aug. 15, 2022 and traveling with a caravan of cars carrying New Square Grand Rabbi David Twersky when he lost control of his SUV on Route 6 and killed another driver, 62-year-old Iksong Jin, from Monticello, in a head-on crash.
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A man expected to face fines for a fatal crash in Woodbury last year is due back in court again Wednesday afternoon, this time while prosecutors and state police seem to be at odds over one of his traffic tickets.
State police say 24-year-old Chaim Gordon was speeding on Aug. 15, 2022 and traveling with a caravan of cars carrying New Square Grand Rabbi David Twersky when he lost control of his SUV on Route 6 and killed another driver, 62-year-old Iksong Jin, from Monticello, in a head-on crash.
MORE: Driver ticketed in deadly crash involving religious leader offered plea deal
Gordon was issued five tickets for traffic infractions after the state police investigation concluded last month – including one for reckless driving that the district attorney’s office says state police later withdrew in a letter to the court dated Aug. 14 and are now trying to file again.
News 12 obtained a copy of a motion to dismiss filed by Orange County Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Dovico on Sept. 21, which indicates state police refiled the ticket at the time of Gordon’s last court appearance on Aug. 23. The court document claims state police accident reconstruction found Gordon was driving somewhere between 63 and 76 mph in a 50 mph zone during the deadly incident:
“As the court is aware, the People’s burden is to prove this charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Based upon the investigation conducted by the New York State Police, the People are not able to prove the Reckless Driving charge beyond a reasonable doubt and thus have no option other than to move to dismiss.”
District Attorney Dave Hoovler tells News 12 that speed alone is not a factor when determining if a motorist engaged in reckless driving and that the evidence shows Gordon ultimately failed to maneuver his vehicle around a turn due to operator error, resulting in the deadly crash.
State police say they didn’t refile the ticket and that it wasn’t dismissed. State police also say they will have no further comment on the case.
Gordon is expected to take a plea deal in Woodbury Town Court carrying a $1,000 fine and up to 10 points on his license for the death that his attorney described as a tragic accident.
