Truck driver in deadly wreck suspected of negligent homicide, recklessness — police
Court orders East Jerusalem man held in custody until Sunday over crash that killed parents of 21 kids combined; investigators still probing why truck overturned
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The driver of a truck that overturned on a highway in southern Israel, killing three, is suspected of negligent homicide and reckless driving, police said Wednesday, as an investigation into the crash continued.
The driver, a 27-year-old East Jerusalem man, was ordered by an Ashkelon judge to remain in custody until at least Sunday at a Magistrate’s Court hearing, police said. He was not named.
The driver was operating a semitrailer on Route 3703 near Kiryat Malachi when the truck overturned, crushing one car and damaging several others.
Tuesday’s crash killed Tzipi Shimoni, a mother of 10 from Sde Uzziah; Fantansh Ovnah, a mother of eight from Kiryat Malachi; and Matanya Ayoubi, a father of three from Kiryat Shmuel.
Both Shimoni and Ayoubi were parents to infants born in the last two months, the Ynet news site reported.
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause of the wreck, police said Wednesday.
Authorities believe the crash occurred when the driver of the truck failed to brake in time and hit a car in front of him. He then swerved into the opposing lane, hitting another car head-on before overturning on top of two other cars, Channel 12 news reported.
A total of 124 people have been killed in traffic incidents since the start of 2022, putting the year on pace to match 2021’s tally of 364 traffic fatalities.
The Times of Israel Community.