Drunk driver who killed boy on Yom Kippur given 10 years prison

A drunk driver who hit and killed a boy riding his bicycle during Yom Kippur was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday morning.

The accused, Eran Azoulay, also had his driver's license cancelled for 20 years and had to pay NIS 150,000 in compensation for the death of 12-year-old Barak Houry.

 The 2021 incident occurred on Yom Kippur, when the roads are often clear of vehicular traffic, and children take to the streets to ride their bikes and scooters. The Tel Aviv District Attorney's office said that Azoulay had been driving at high speeds under the influence of alcohol, while knowing of the social convention which would place many children and pedestrians on the roads.

Family members testify

The victim's father testified that he court had to take into account the thousands of children and teenagers who could be harmed by reckless driving on Yom Kippur, and a clear statement was needed in response.

The court agreed with their assessments of the driver’s recklessness and negligence, saying that the driver didn't value the sanctity of life and his obligation to protect other people on the road, including cyclists.

The parents and siblings of Houry welcomed the sentencing, and thanked law enforcement and the court.

"No punishment in the world can atone for the magnitude of the disaster that the accused brought upon us and for taking the life of our beloved Barak, and we hope that the sentence will prevent other families from experiencing the terrible tragedy that the accused caused to Barak and us," said the family.

Houry was set to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah two months before he was killed.