2 killed in hit-and-run on coastal highway; driver steals truck to flee, is arrested

Car runs off road, smashes into motorcycle and pedestrian; suspect allegedly steals vehicle to escape after its driver stops to help

The scene of a deadly hit-and-run near Netanya that claimed the lives of two people, October 6, 2023 (United Hatzalah)
The scene of a deadly hit-and-run near Netanya that claimed the lives of two people, October 6, 2023 (United Hatzalah)

Two men were killed Friday morning on the Route 2 coastal highway when a car ran off the road and smashed into a motorcycle and the steps of a pedestrian bridge.

The offending driver then allegedly fled the scene in a truck he stole after its driver stopped to offer help. He was later apprehended by police at his home.

The motorcyclist who was killed was identified as Eyal Yehuda, 46, a father of five and a resident of Herzliya.

The other fatality was named in media reports as Rafael Ben Lulu, a 28-year-old father.

The suspect is a resident of Netanya in his 30s.

“Both victims, a pedestrian and the motorcycle rider, lay on the steps to the pedestrian bridge, were unconscious and suffered severe multi-system injuries,” Magen David Adom paramedic Daniel Sheva said. “We conducted medical checks but they showed no signs of life and we could do nothing but declare them dead.”

Earlier, another motorcycle rider was seriously injured after overturning in Jerusalem.

According to the NGO Or Yarok, 279 people have been killed in road-related accidents since the beginning of the year, a 7% increase over last year’s fatalities.

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