Early Monday, Gavriel Diego Lerner went on a cycling trip with two friends. He then sped forth on a route leading up to Katzir, leaving his riding companions behind. After a while they saw his wrecked bicycle on the road; Lerner lay unconscious at the side of the road.
Related stories:
- Nesher accident victims laid to rest
- Hit-and-run: Truck kills 90-year-old man
- Jordan: 17 Palestinians killed in bus crash
During his interrogation in Israel, the driver claimed he couldn't see the cyclist as he was unsighted by the blaze of the sun. He was questioned under caution and then taken back to the Palestinian Authority. Traffic Police said that in accordance with the Oslo Accords he will be tried in the PA.
Photo: Ido Erez
The cyclists called MDA, yet paramedics were unable to resuscitate Lerner and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Related stories:
- Jaffa: 2 seriously injured in hit-and-run
- Hit-and-run: Truck kills 90-year-old man
- Driver who killed 2 cyclists was not intoxicated, police say
The driver's blood-stained vehicle was located in a nearby village. Police are currently negotiating the man's transfer over to Israel with their Palestinian counterparts.
Yoav Bleicher, a close family friend, said Lerner was a highly experienced cyclist and a member of a cycling group. "This is not the first accident involving cyclists," Bleicher added. "Unless they take drastic measures to raise awareness of the issue among drivers, Gavriel will not be the last victim."
Lerner was born in Argentina. He grew up in Kibbutz Dalia and lived with his family at the northern Israeli town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
The last few years have seen a number of hit-and-run accidents where cyclists were left to die on the road by the fleeing drivers. One of the most scandalous cases was in June 2010 when Tal Mor ran over and killed Shneor Cheshin while driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Mor received a 12 year prison sentence.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop