Driver Sentenced to 7 Years for Fatal Crash Killing Engaged Couple

A Beersheba District Court has sentenced Suria Abu Arar, 44, to seven years in prison and a 20-year driving license suspension for causing a fatal car accident that killed an engaged couple. The crash occurred last February near Beersheba when Abu Arar, a Negev resident, crossed a solid dividing line to overtake another vehicle, colliding head-on with the car carrying Eliab Abukasis, 23, and his fiancée, Shagaf Danino, 28. Both victims were on their way to pick strawberries and were planning to marry.

Families of the victims reacted with anguish to the sentence, crying out, "Seven years, is that what their lives are worth?" The judge, Noa Haklai, cited Abu Arar's confession and her status as a mother of eight children as factors in her decision, expressing concern for their well-being. In addition to prison and the driving ban, Abu Arar was ordered to pay 180,000 shekels in compensation to each victim's family.

The case was handled through a mediation process led by the late President of the Beersheba District Court, Judge Beni Sagie, who himself died in a traffic accident earlier this year. During mediation, Sagie reportedly suggested a sentence of at least 12 years. The victim's families recounted that during mediation, the late judge indicated the punishment should be at least 12 years. The mother of Shagaf Danino wrote a letter to the court detailing the devastation, stating the accident was avoidable and that Abu Arar's decision to break traffic laws led to the couple's death.

During the sentencing, Judge Haklai described the victims: Eliab Abukasis was an outstanding, beloved individual with aspirations to become a police officer, while Shagaf Danino was characterized as a kind-hearted person who radiated light and was a pillar of support, planning a family with Eliab. The judge acknowledged the profound grief and difficulty the families face in rebuilding their lives after the "senseless and unnecessary" deaths. The court noted that Abu Arar was driving at 124 km/h (77 mph) in a 90 km/h (56 mph) zone and swerved erratically before the collision.

Abu Arar expressed deep remorse, stating she wishes she could turn back time and that her own life is ruined. She revealed she had also lost a child in a traffic accident and suffers from severe mental distress. Her defense attorney requested leniency based on her guilty plea. The prosecution had initially sought a sentence of up to 16 years and a 25-year driving ban.