Driver Sentenced to 40 Months for Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Petah Tikva
Tomer Tuchman was sentenced to 40 months in prison for reckless homicide and drunk driving in a crash that killed 22-year-old motorcyclist Arieh Cohen in Petah Tikva.
A Tel Aviv District Court has sentenced Tomer Tuchman to 40 months in prison for reckless homicide and driving under the influence, following a fatal crash that claimed the life of 22-year-old motorcyclist Arieh Cohen in September 2023.
The tragic incident occurred on September 7, 2023, around 1:37 AM. Tuchman, who had been drinking at a pub in Petah Tikva, was driving his Hyundai vehicle with two passengers when he abruptly swerved right from a straight-only lane at an intersection, blocking the path of Cohen, who was riding his motorcycle at a high speed. Cohen suffered severe multi-system trauma and passed away about a week later in the hospital.
Heartbreaking Testimony in Court
During the sentencing hearings, the victim's family delivered emotionally charged testimonies that left few dry eyes in the courtroom. Arieh's sister, Odelia Azulay, described how their family of 11 siblings was shattered by the loss, noting that their mother is devastated and their father suffered a stroke about a month after the tragedy. She portrayed Arieh as the "glue" of the family, a uniquely loving and joyful person.
"No punishment will bring my brother back to life, but the court must send a clear message through an appropriate sentence for anyone who chooses to drive after drinking and causes the death of an innocent person," Odelia told the court.
Arieh's mother, Zehava Cohen, also testified, displaying a photograph of her son. She shared that she works 17 hours a day just to cope with the pain and urged the court to impose the maximum possible penalty, emphasizing that driving under the influence is a deliberate act rather than a mere mistake.
Legal Arguments and Verdict
Under a plea bargain, the prosecution restricted its demand to four and a half years in prison, alongside a 15-year license revocation and financial compensation. The prosecution stressed that Tuchman's actions violated the sanctity of life and that his drunk driving combined with an illegal lane maneuver directly caused the fatal crash.
Conversely, the defense asked the court to set a sentencing range of 18 months to four years, pointing out that Cohen was traveling at speeds between 112 and 117 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. The defense highlighted Tuchman's clean criminal and traffic record over 30 years of driving.
Judge Ron Sulkin noted that while Tuchman's severe intoxication—measuring nearly twice the legal limit—and reckless maneuver left the victim with no chance of survival, the motorcyclist's excessive speed was also a factor that could not be ignored. Ultimately, the court sentenced Tuchman to 40 months in actual imprisonment, a 25,000-shekel fine, 50,000 shekels in compensation to the family, and a 10-year driving ban following his release.
