Jerusalem Court Sentences Driver to Six Years for Fatal 2019 Crash Killing Mother and Infant

The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Tarek Kard to six years in prison for causing a deadly car accident on Road 45 near Ofer Prison in December 2019. The crash resulted in the deaths of Zipporah Rimel and her infant daughter Noam Rachel Rimel, with several other family members critically injured. Kard was convicted of two counts of negligent homicide and received an additional 15-year driving ban, a suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay compensation to the victims' family.

The court found that Kard was driving at speeds between 140 and 145 km/h when he collided with the family's vehicle, rejecting his defense claim that a technical failure caused the accident. It was also determined that Kard possessed the necessary mental culpability for the negligent homicide charges. Prosecutor Yael Igra requested a 15-year prison term, emphasizing Kard's sole responsibility for failing to brake before hitting cars stopped at a red light and driving recklessly during a test drive of an unfamiliar vehicle.

The prosecution argued that Kard's mental state should not mitigate his punishment, highlighting the widespread tragedy caused by reckless driving on Israeli roads and calling for a severe sentence to serve as a deterrent. Kard's lawyer requested a lighter sentence of nine months of community service. The case underscores ongoing concerns about road safety and accountability in Israel.