Israeli Court Sentences Driver to Six Years for Fatal 2019 Crash Killing Wife and Infant Daughter

Efraim Rimel lost his wife, Tzipi, and infant daughter, Noam, in a 2019 car accident on Highway 45 caused by driver Tarek Kurd. On Monday, six and a half years after the crash, the court sentenced Kurd to six years in prison for two counts of negligent homicide. Rimel, who was severely injured along with his son Itai who lost a leg, expressed shock and disappointment at the relatively light sentence, calling it a "disgrace" and saying "human life is worth barely three years."

The court found that Kurd was driving at approximately 140-145 km/h and failed to brake before hitting the Rimel family’s vehicle stopped at a red light. The defense’s claims that technical failures in the car caused the accident were rejected, and Kurd was deemed mentally fit at the time. In addition to prison, Kurd received a 15-year driving ban, a suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay compensation to the family.

Rimel criticized Kurd’s lack of remorse and the defense’s attempts to mitigate the sentence by citing mental health issues and vehicle problems. The Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office had demanded a 15-year sentence, emphasizing Kurd’s sole responsibility, reckless speeding during a test drive, and failure to take responsibility. Prosecutors called for a harsh, deterrent punishment to send a clear message against reckless driving, highlighting the devastating impact on the Rimel family.

Rimel stated that no sentence could undo the damage, but expressed concern that Kurd might continue driving. The family awaits the prosecution’s appeal of the sentence, hoping for a stricter penalty.