Driver Who Fatally Struck Teen Released to House Arrest

A 21-year-old man accused of fatally striking a teenager in Hadera has been released to house arrest, pending further investigation. The judge presiding over the case, Ehud Kaplan, stated that the suspect, Mahmoud Samhat, was attempting to flee from a mob that was pursuing him and that the fatal incident was not intentional. "The suspect did not deny causing the death of the deceased, and according to him, he fled from the crowd that chased him and wanted to lynch him. He did not notice that he had run over a person and therefore cannot be attributed to him abandonment. It is clear from the investigation materials that he did not run anyone over intentionally," the judge ruled. He added that at most, the incident involved negligence, and even then, not at a high level, given that Samhat was fleeing individuals attempting to harm him. Judge Kaplan suggested that the responsibility for the tragic outcome lies primarily with those who pursued Samhat, rather than solely with him, though his role will be further examined.

The victim, 17-year-old Amihai Atia, a student from Itamar, was killed in the "Village" shopping complex in Hadera. Atia was in Hadera with fellow students for a Selichot (penitential prayers) event. According to his friends, the driver of the pickup truck was speeding when he struck Atia. Emergency services attempted resuscitation and transported him to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Initial police findings indicated the incident began with a confrontation between the driver and several youths, during which Atia was hit. The driver, who was lightly injured by gunfire after fleeing the scene, was also treated medically. Security footage showed hundreds of young people at the event, with the driver unloading goods before a confrontation with some youths. The footage captured the driver attempting to flee in reverse, hitting Atia as several youths pursued him. Atia's friends emphasized that he was not involved in the initial altercation. Amihai Atia, son of Sagith and Yona Atia, is survived by five siblings and was buried before Yom Kippur.