Driver Sentenced to Six Years for Fatal 2019 Crash Killing Mother and Infant in Israel

The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Tarek Karad to six years in prison for causing a fatal car accident on Route 45 in 2019 that killed Zipora (Tzipi) Rimel and her infant daughter Noam Rachel Rimel. Karad was convicted of negligent homicide after driving at approximately 140-145 km/h during a test drive and colliding with the Rimel family vehicle. The crash also left another child in the family critically injured and the father, Ephraim Rimel, moderately to seriously wounded.

The prosecution had demanded a 15-year sentence, arguing Karad bore full responsibility for the accident due to excessive speed, failure to brake, and refusal to accept accountability. They stated a harsher punishment would serve as a deterrent to reckless driving. Karad’s defense requested a lenient sentence of nine months of community service. The court rejected claims that a mechanical failure caused the crash.

Zipora Rimel was 35 years old at the time, and her daughter Noam Rachel was only about three weeks old. Karad was also charged with aggravated assault and driving without valid insurance, offenses that carry up to 12 years in prison combined with negligent homicide.

Ephraim Rimel, hospitalized and unable to walk, described his shock upon learning of the accident and his wife’s death. The Rimel family expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, calling for a harsher penalty.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and accountability in Israel.