BREAKING: Beer Sheva District Court President Killed in Crash on Highway 6

The Israeli judicial system is in mourning following the tragic death of Judge Beni Sagi, the President of the Beer Sheva District Court, who was killed in a severe traffic accident on Sunday evening. Sagi, 54, was riding his motorcycle on Highway 6 near the village of Kfar Menachem when he was involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle. Despite the rapid arrival of emergency teams from Magen David Adom and ZAKA, the injuries sustained by the high ranking judge were critical. Paramedics reported finding him unconscious with no pulse or breath, and they were forced to pronounce his death at the scene.

Initial investigations by the Israel Police suggest that the accident occurred when a vehicle entered the highway from an unpaved shoulder or field, striking Sagi's motorcycle. Forensic experts and investigators from the Kiryat Malachi station spent hours at the scene collecting evidence. The loss of Sagi is being described as a massive blow to the court system, as he had only recently been appointed to lead the Beer Sheva District Court in May 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Vice President of the Tel Aviv District Court, where he was highly respected for his efficiency and his ability to mediate complex legal disputes.

President Isaac Herzog led the tributes, expressing deep pain over the loss. "Judge Sagi was a brilliant and sharp jurist, a great judge who combined vast professional knowledge with extraordinary integrity," Herzog stated. He noted that Sagi was known for being a "moral, humble, and kind hearted person" who always saw the human being behind every case. Within the legal community, Sagi was famous for his approachable nature, often sitting in court corridors to speak with lawyers as equals and inviting them into his office for informal discussions.

The tragedy also highlights a grim milestone for road safety in Israel. According to the Or Yarok Association, Sagi is the 100th motorcycle rider to be killed on the roads in the past year. Yaniv Yaakov, the CEO of the association, expressed his condolences while criticizing the Ministry of Transportation for the rising death toll. He argued that the roads are designed for private cars, leaving motorcycle riders to pay the ultimate price. As the investigation into the specific circumstances of the crash continues, the judicial authority has officially expressed its profound shock and grief, noting that the legal world has lost one of its most promising and beloved leaders.