Eyewitnesses to the fatal running over of teenager Amichai Atia (17) in the parking lot of the Mul HaChof Village complex in Hadera said the incident was preceded by a confrontation between the vehicle's driver and worshippers at a Selichot prayer event. According to witnesses, the worshippers were angry that the driver was unloading merchandise during the prayer service, which was held in the parking lot. The driver, according to testimonies, told the teenagers he had to unload the goods from the vehicle, but failed to convince them to let him. At some point, a full-scale commotion erupted around the commercial vehicle, and when he began driving to flee the scene, he struck Amichai at high speed. He then continued driving, while sustaining minor injuries from gunfire opened toward him by a member of a standby squad.