86-Year-Old Driver Indicted for Fatal Crash That Killed Two Good Samaritans in Northern Israel

Five months after a deadly accident on the Sargel Road claimed the lives of Barak Bar, a 22-year-old former soldier from Afula, and Ayelet Granit, 50, from Merhavya, an indictment was filed against 86-year-old driver Yair Avraham Sapir. The indictment charges Sapir with causing their deaths and reckless driving. The incident occurred on January 22, when Bar and Granit stopped to assist victims of an earlier crash on the road. Despite the right lane being blocked due to the first accident, Sapir continued driving in that lane, failing to adjust his speed or recognize the hazard, leading to a chain collision.

Bar was pronounced dead at the scene, while Granit died several hours later. Several others were injured in the crash. The indictment, submitted by Attorney Basel Saadi of the Northern District Prosecutor's Office, states that Sapir's negligence directly caused the second accident and its severe consequences, including fatalities and property damage. Prosecutors have requested to revoke Sapir's driving license for the duration of the legal proceedings, citing the danger he poses to public safety.

Investigators reconstructed the accident under similar conditions to establish the evidentiary basis. Police reports indicate there was no obstruction to Sapir's view, and his claim that another vehicle hit him from behind contradicts the evidence. Sapir's defense attorney, Kobi Tal, expressed condolences to the victims' families and emphasized that the case will be resolved in court, declining further comment out of respect for the legal process.