Kan 11 News Director Itzik Barashi Killed in Road Accident

Itzik Barashi, a director for the news division at Israel's Kan 11 public broadcaster, died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle while cycling on Route 44 near the Nesherim interchange, close to Ramla. He was 54.

Barashi was critically injured and teams from the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service evacuated him to Shamir-Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Traffic police are investigating the circumstances of the crash. The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 40s, was detained for questioning and later released under restrictive conditions.

Kan 11 News issued a statement mourning Barashi, describing him as a "valued director" who joined the broadcaster in 2018 and was known for his professionalism and commitment. "He accompanied our broadcasts with professionalism and commitment, in routine and in war," the statement read.

An MDA paramedic at the scene described finding the cyclist unconscious with a severe head injury, initiating resuscitation and transport to the hospital. The incident adds to a recent spate of fatal road accidents in Israel. On Friday, a 7-year-old boy died in a crash near Rahat. The previous day saw two men in their 30s killed in a collision in the Negev, a taxi driver killed by a bus on the Ayalon Highway, and a motorcyclist killed near Kiryat Ata. Earlier that day, a cyclist was killed near Tel Aviv and a Palestinian man was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run.

The "Or Yarok" (Green Light) road safety advocacy group noted 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, a 2% decrease from the same period last year. The group's CEO, Adv. Yaniv Yaakov, stated that cyclists are paying the price for government neglect, citing the lack of safe, separated cycling paths. He urged the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety to prioritize cyclist safety to save lives.