Brave Young Man Killed Helping Accident Victims, Family Fights for Elder Driver Safety
Barak Bar, a 29-year-old from Afula, was tragically killed on January 22nd when he stopped to help victims of a road accident on the Saragal highway. As he exited his vehicle to assist, he was struck and killed by another car. His parents described him as a "gifted child" with a deep commitment to helping others, a value they instilled in him. They expressed profound grief, with his mother lamenting, "If I had instilled this less in them, then Barak would not have stopped... but this was his regular practice, to help."
Barak had a life meticulously planned, including law studies, business ventures, marriage to his beloved Orin, and raising four children. He was a former professional tennis player who trained internationally from a young age, even living in an academy in Barcelona. However, at 12, he chose to return to Israel to serve as a combat soldier in the Magav (Border Police), driven by his Zionist values and desire to contribute to the country. He and Orin served together in Magav, completing training and commanding recruits, and continued in reserve duty. Barak had been planning to propose to Orin during an upcoming trip to Thailand.
The driver of the second vehicle, 86-year-old Yair Avraham Sapir, has been indicted for manslaughter and reckless driving causing injury and property damage. The prosecution requested his driver's license be suspended pending the trial, noting that evidence suggests he was driving carelessly on a blocked road despite being able to see the stopped vehicles. Sapir's defense stated they would present their case in court and respected the family's desire for justice.
Barak's parents are now leading a public campaign advocating for stricter regulations and mandatory cognitive and medical testing for elderly drivers. They argue that current laws allow potentially unsafe elderly drivers to operate vehicles without adequate oversight, calling it a "license to kill under the law." They are also concerned about potential legal delays in their son's case, demanding a swift and just trial with severe punishment for the driver.
In addition to Barak, Ayelet Granit, 50, also died in the accident, and seven others were injured, three seriously. The Saragal highway was closed for hours following the incident as investigators reconstructed the crash.
