Three Women Injured in Hit-and-Run Incident in Beersheba

Three women were injured on Wednesday when a car struck pedestrians on Yohana Jabotinsky Street in Beersheba. One woman, in her 40s, sustained moderate head injuries, while another pedestrian and the driver suffered minor injuries. All three were transported to Soroka Hospital for treatment. The incident occurs amidst a continued rise in road traffic fatalities within the Arab community in 2026. Data from the Or Yarok Association indicates that 139 Arab citizens have died in road accidents since the start of the year up to October 18, a 15% increase from the same period last year, which saw 121 fatalities. Arab citizens accounted for approximately 39% of all road traffic deaths, despite making up about 20% of the population. Nationally, 355 people have died in road accidents during the same period. The Arab victim toll includes children, young people, pedestrians, and drivers of various vehicles, highlighting a significant road safety crisis impacting the Arab community. Specifically, 16 children under 14 and 50 young people aged 15-24 have died in road accidents this year. Roads between cities have seen the highest number of fatalities among Arab citizens. Calls persist for a comprehensive plan to improve road safety and address infrastructure and prevention shortcomings as the number of victims continues to rise.