Off-duty soldier killed, 2 seriously hurt in West Bank car-truck collision

An 18-year-old man was killed and two others seriously injured in a collision between their car and a truck in the West Bank in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The crash occurred at around 3:30 a.m. near the Giti Avishar junction, west of the settlement city of Ariel.

The three occupants of the car — aged all 18-20 — were taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva for treatment for multiple injuries.

The hospital later announced the death of the young man, who was named as Oded Hagar from the settlement of Yakir in the West Bank. He was the youngest of six brothers.

Local officials said Hagar had enlisted into the Israel Defense Forces a week earlier — he was spending time with friends before he was set to return to his base.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid tweeted that he sent his sympathies to the family of the young man, and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The scene of a collision between a car and truck near Giti Avishar junction in the West Bank, September 4, 2022 (Israel Police)

The condition of the two others in the vehicle was defined by the hospital as “serious and unstable.”

The driver of the truck required medical treatment at the scene for minor injuries.

The circumstances surrounding the accident were unclear and police said traffic investigators have opened an investigation.