Mother brings toddler to jail with her as she starts term for cyclist’s death

A mother entered prison to serve an eight-month sentence for vehicular manslaughter Sunday, four months pregnant and with her one-year-old-daughter in tow.

On December 5, 2006, Hila Mizrahi accidentally ran over cyclist Itzik Darazi.

Mizrahi, 32, a kindergarten teacher, was driving from Rehovot to Gedera when she strayed from her lane onto the shoulder of the road, fatally striking cyclist Darazi, a father of three.

After successfully appealing to reduce the one-year sentence initially imposed on her to eight months, Mizrahi is leaving her two older children, age five and six, in the care of her husband, but brought her toddler daughter to prison with her so she can continue to look after her. Mizrahi reported to Neveh Tirza prison on Sunday.

According to Israeli Prison Service regulations, children under the age of two are allowed to stay in prison with their jailed mothers if the mother decides it is in the interest of the child to remain with her. Currently, there are four children living in Neveh Tirza women’s prison.

Mizrahi told Yedioth Ahronoth that she feels that bringing her daughter to jail is the right decision, but that she is willing to reconsider if it turns out to be detrimental to the toddler.