"I don't see how any rational person could see any difference between dying in an accident and being murdered in a random, untargeted act."

So you, as a rational person, don't seen any difference between someone bumping into you accidentally and apologizing, and someone deliberately shoving you? Really?

Rational people forgive accidents and punish intentional or negligent harm. The RATIONAL basis for this is that the punished offender is less likely to repeat the offense in the future.

I'm not sure why this is a difficult concept.