Kan 11 Director Itzik Barashi Killed in Road Accident

Itzik Barashi, a 54-year-old director at Kan 11, died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle while cycling on Highway 44 near the Nesherim interchange. Barashi was critically injured and later pronounced dead at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center. Traffic police are investigating the incident. The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 40s, was detained for questioning and released under restrictive conditions. Kan 11 issued a statement mourning Barashi, describing him as a valued and professional director who joined the broadcaster in 2018 and was known for his dedication. The fatal accident is the latest in a series of deadly road incidents in Israel in recent days. On Friday, a 7-year-old boy died in a road accident near Rahat. The previous day, two men in their 30s were killed in a collision in the Negev, a 70-year-old taxi driver died after being hit by a bus on the Ayalon Highway, and a motorcyclist was killed near Kiryat Ata. Earlier that day, a cyclist died after being hit by a car near Tel Aviv, and a Palestinian man was arrested on suspicion of stealing a car and running over its driver. The Or Yarok Association reported that 24 cyclists and riders of electric scooters and bikes have died in road accidents this year, and a total of 323 people have died in road accidents since the start of 2026. The association noted a 2% decrease in fatalities compared to the same period last year, but its CEO, Adv. Yaniv Yaakov, criticized the government for neglecting the safety of cyclists, citing the lack of separate and safe riding paths. He urged the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety to prioritize cyclist safety to reduce injuries and save lives.