Woman convicted for fleeing the scene of 2023 hit-and-run that killed 4-year-old boy

Carol Fessler, 81, is convicted of fleeing the scene of a 2023 hit-and-run that caused the death of a 4-year-old boy.

Rafael Adana, aged 4, was hit by the car while walking with his grandfather in Netanya. He was critically injured and died several days later.

Channel 12 reported that an eyewitness saw the child step onto the road from the sidewalk without a pedestrian crossing when he was hit by Fessler’s vehicle.

A senior police official told Channel 12 that “at the time, no driver could have stopped and prevented the injury. Therefore, the driver had no chance to swerve her car.” Fessler was not indicted for the boy’s death.

Law enforcement’s handling of the probe led to protests by members of the Ethiopian community, who accused authorities of racism and leniency toward Fessler.