Driver Sentenced to 7 Years for Fatal Crash Killing Engaged Couple

A woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for causing a fatal car accident that killed an engaged couple. Suria Abu Arar was convicted of causing the deaths of Shahaf Danino and Eliab Abukasis. The families of the victims expressed outrage at the sentence, calling it a "shame and disgrace" and questioning why seven years was deemed appropriate for the loss of two lives.

The accident occurred last February on a road north of Beersheba, near Eshel HaNasi. Abu Arar was found to have been speeding at 124 km/h in a 90 km/h zone and illegally overtook two vehicles, colliding head-on with the couple's car. Both Danino, 28, and Abukasis, 23, were pronounced dead at the scene. They were scheduled to be married three months after the crash.

During the sentencing, the judge described the victims' families' profound grief and the difficulty they face in rebuilding their lives. Abukasis was remembered as a diligent and lively individual who had served in the army and volunteered with the police, while Danino was characterized as a kind-hearted person who loved children and planned to start a family. The judge noted that the couple's deaths were senseless and unnecessary, shattering their families.

Abu Arar expressed remorse during the trial, revealing that she too had lost a child in a road accident. She stated that she wished she could turn back time and that she was psychologically devastated. However, the court emphasized that her dangerous overtaking maneuver was a deliberate choice, demonstrating a deviation from expected driver behavior. The judge rejected the notion that accidents are simply fate, stating that the defendant chose to execute the risky maneuver, endangering other road users and her own young children who were in the car with her.

The father of one of the victims, who is an EMT with Magen David Adom, was called to the scene and tragically discovered his daughter and her fiancé among the deceased. He was initially kept away by police but managed to reach the victims and identify them. The court acknowledged the severe trauma experienced by the families, their deep sorrow, and their longing for the couple.