‘She Was in Total Shock’: Indictment Filed Against Sderot Driver Who Fled Crash Scene by Taxi
The Southern District Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment today (Wednesday) with the Ashdod Traffic Court against Hodia Hassan, 26, of Sderot. According to the indictment, Hassan caused a fatal traffic accident on August 19 last year in which two women were killed and three other people were injured, and then left the scene in a taxi without calling rescue forces.
Hassan is charged with negligent homicide and failure to perform the duties of a driver involved in a traffic accident. She was investigated on suspicion of negligent homicide, careless driving, crossing a solid line, reckless driving and additional offenses. Later, she also requested the return of her driver’s license. In the end, she was indicted on only two offenses, and not on the offense of leaving the scene, after doubt arose as to whether she knew that people had been hurt in the crash in which she was involved.
According to the indictment, filed through attorney Raviv Amar of the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, in August last year Hassan was driving her vehicle on Route 232. During the drive, it is alleged, she drifted out of her lane, crossed a double solid line and moved into the opposite lane, where she collided with an oncoming vehicle. As a result of the collision, the struck vehicle was deflected into the opposite lane and collided with another vehicle, in which Ramaan Ruppa Mangapillil, of blessed memory, and Bitya Hanan, of blessed memory, were riding. The two were killed in the crash, and three other people were injured.
According to the indictment, after the accident Hassan left the scene in a taxi, without reporting it to the police, rescue services, or providing her details to any other party.
The taxi driver told ynet that only a few months ago investigators from the Negev traffic division contacted him and took testimony from him. "She did not know what was happening to her," he said. "I didn’t know whether she was connected to the accident or not. I stopped to ask her if she needed help. She had a baby in the car. She started shaking and the baby started crying. She didn’t know what to do with herself and didn’t know how to describe what happened. She didn’t understand the situation. Her husband called, and I told him she wasn’t calming down and that I could take her home, and he could come and take care of her. She didn’t know anything."
According to him, the investigators later updated him on the details of the investigation. "I was very worried about her. She couldn’t function. She was in total shock. I didn’t know what happened in the accident because I didn’t see it. The investigator shared everything with me after he questioned me. He said she was probably going to get it. They thought she had run away. But she absolutely did not run away. They dropped that because they spoke with me. I wasn’t a party to the matter. Her husband wanted me to tell what happened because he called me. I left them my business card to see that everything was okay. Her husband said they came to arrest her. Their lawyer spoke with me and they brought me into the picture. I was questioned just a few months ago."
Along with the indictment, Amar filed a request to suspend Hassan’s driver’s license until the end of the legal proceedings. The request argued that her dangerousness is evident both from the circumstances of the fatal crash and its severe consequences, and from her conduct afterward, when she left the crash scene without reporting it, calling rescue forces or providing identifying details.
The prosecution says Hassan was arrested at her home after leaving the scene, and that her actions show she is unaware of the duties and heavy responsibility placed on a driver. Regarding the long period that passed between the crash and the filing of the suspension request, it was argued that police carried out additional investigative steps and that Operation "Roar of the Lion" delayed the proceedings.
As noted, after the accident Hassan requested to cancel the administrative suspension imposed on her. In a request filed with the Beersheba Traffic Court, it was argued that "Hassan bears not even the beginning of responsibility for the accident."
