Lod Court Sentences Driver to 10 Years in Prison for Fatal Highway 6 Crash
A Lod court has sentenced Maksim Sabag to 10 years in prison and a 20-year driving ban for a fatal cocaine-fueled wrong-way crash on Highway 6 that killed Vladimir Donduchko in 2022.
Maksim Sabag has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Central District Court in Lod, presided over by Judge Efrat Fink, following a fatal wrong-way crash on Highway 6 that claimed the life of 50-year-old Vladimir Donduchko in June 2022.
In addition to the decade-long prison term, the court imposed a 20-year driver's license revocation and ordered Sabag to pay 100,000 shekels in compensation to the victim's family. Sabag was convicted after a full evidentiary trial of reckless homicide, driving under the influence of drugs, and driving in the opposite direction on a one-way thoroughfare.
A History of Violations and Reckless Driving
Court proceedings revealed a severe pattern of disregard for traffic laws. Just one day before the fatal collision, Sabag drove through a red light. Four months prior, he was convicted of driving under the influence of drugs, adding to a staggering record of 61 previous traffic violations and seven criminal convictions.
On the afternoon of the crash, Sabag was driving southbound on Highway 6 when he executed a U-turn and began driving against traffic. Toxicology reports confirmed he was under the influence of cocaine at the time, and a test tube was recovered from his vehicle. Witnesses and investigators noted that Sabag was shirtless and shoeless during the incident, and after the crash, he tore off his dashboard camera and exhibited bizarre behavior.
Dismissed Defenses and Severe Endangerment
During the trial, the defense attempted to challenge the blood test results, arguing possible contamination or misidentification, and attributed Sabag's actions to post-traumatic stress or narcotic medications. Judge Fink decisively rejected these claims, noting that Sabag showed no genuine remorse and failed to take responsibility.
The prosecution emphasized that Sabag drove for 1.8 kilometers against oncoming traffic at high speed, forcing numerous motorists to swerve to avoid a collision before slamming into Donduchko's vehicle. Judge Fink invoked Supreme Court precedent, stating that driving under the influence of dangerous drugs is equivalent to aiming a loaded weapon at innocent pedestrians.
Devastating Impact on the Victim's Family
Testimony from the victim's partner, Marina Donduchko, and his daughter, Svetlana, highlighted the profound grief inflicted by the tragedy. Donduchko, who immigrated to Israel from Ukraine in 2000, was a construction crane expert and the emotional anchor of his family. His partner testified that her life and health have deteriorated severely since his death, describing her existence as shattered, while his daughter expressed enduring isolation and sorrow.
