Elderly Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run by Truck in Jerusalem

An approximately 70-year-old pedestrian was killed Sunday morning in Jerusalem's Rehavia neighborhood after being struck by a truck on Rashba Street. Police have opened an investigation into the incident, suspecting a hit-and-run, and are conducting extensive searches for the truck driver. Emergency medical teams who arrived at the scene found the woman in critical condition and performed resuscitation efforts, but were ultimately forced to declare her dead. Eyewitnesses told responders that a truck had hit the pedestrian. "The pedestrian was lying on the road, unconscious, without a pulse or breathing," described Hatzalah medic Haki Hercelf. "We provided her with medical treatment including resuscitation efforts, after which we unfortunately had to pronounce her dead at the scene," added fellow medic Shlomo Margalit. The incident adds to a recent spate of fatal traffic accidents in Israel. So far this year, 342 people have died on Israeli roads. Last week, 91-year-old Susana Viznberg was killed by a truck near Kibbutz Be'er Chayil in the Gaza envelope. The day before, a 19-year-old motorcyclist died on Highway 12 between Eilat and Tze'elim Junction after skidding. Hours earlier, 30-year-old Samir Rabah from Dir Hana died on Highway 65 near Ilut after apparently colliding his vehicle with a horse.