Motorcyclist killed in crash on northern highway; man hurt by Jerusalem light rail

A motorcyclist was killed in an accident in northern Israel early Friday, as a pedestrian in Jerusalem was in serious condition after being hit by a light rail.

The motorcycle driver was traveling on Route 2 between Haifa and Atlit at the time of the crash overnight. He was found with no signs of life by Magen David Adom paramedics, who pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police have opened an investigation and suspect he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a traffic barrier, killing himself.

The motorcyclist was not immediately identified.

In another accident, 18 people were lightly injured when a bus and a semitrailer collided on Route 6 at an interchange near the northern town of Baqa al-Gharbiya.

Paramedics evacuated nine of those hurt to hospitals, while the others made their own way to medical treatment.

Separately Friday, a 45-year-old man was seriously injured in Jerusalem after being struck by the light rail near the city’s popular Mahane Yehuda market. The circumstances of how the man was hit were not immediately clear.

He was brought by paramedics to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and police opened a probe.

As a result of the incident, train service was briefly suspended between the Damascus Gate and Central Bus Station light rail stops.