Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced the arraignment of Axel I. Lopez-Santiago, 41, of Spring Valley, on a Grand Jury indictment related to a fatal crash that claimed the life of 4-year-old Golda Eisenbach, the daughter of Spring Valley Village Trustee Reb Yisroel Eisenbach. The arraignment took place Friday morning before County Court Judge Kevin Russo. Lopez-Santiago was remanded to the Rockland County Jail without bail and is scheduled to return to court on July 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
The indictment charges Lopez-Santiago with three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, one count of Felony Driving While Intoxicated, and one count of Reckless Driving.
The charges stem from a devastating incident that occurred on June 14, 2025. Authorities allege that Lopez-Santiago was driving eastbound on Old Nyack Turnpike in Spring Valley at a high rate of speed when he veered across the double yellow line, into the opposite lane, and onto the sidewalk near Kennedy Park. He allegedly struck four pedestrians before crashing into a tree. First responders found him behind the wheel as the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Tragically, 4-year-old Golda Eisenbach succumbed to her injuries. Two of the other victims, a 31-year-old male and a five-year-old male, sustained serious physical injuries. The investigation revealed that the defendant was intoxicated from his consumption of alcoholic beverages at the time of the fatal collision.
The investigation was conducted by the Spring Valley Police Department, with assistance from the Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Supervising Assistant District Attorney Sharleen Bailon and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
As a reminder, an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.