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Akiva Katz

Disabled IDF vet killed crossing TLV street

Akiva Katz, 69, a former wheelchair basketball player, was hit by an SUV crossing the street; Katz represented Israel in international wheelchair basketball matches; Beit Halochem's basketball coordinator: 'He had very colorful and interesting personality both on and off the court'; The driver's license was revoked for 90 days and his vehicle seized by the police.

Akiva Katz, 69, a disabled IDF veteran, was killed in a car accident Wednesday. Katz, a grandfather, father of four and a former wheelchair basketball player, was hit by an SUV while crossing the street in Tel Aviv.

 

 

As a former member of the Israeli wheelchair basketball team, Katz participated in the 1981 International Stoke Mandeville Games —an international wheelchair basketball tournament —in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

 

The late Akiva Katz
The late Akiva Katz
 

The date of his funeral is yet to be determined.

 

According to the police, Katz crossed Tel Aviv's Einstein street at a pedestrian crossing when he was hit by a Hummer vehicle. He was evacuated to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in critical condition, where doctors later pronounced his death.

 

The police arrived at the scene and began investigating the circumstances of the accident.

 

"Akiva was a basketball player in Beit Halochem (supporting the rehabilitation of Israel’s wounded veterans) for many years and also played in the Israeli national team, he had very colorful and interesting personality both inside and outside the court. He had a spine injury and in recent years was confined to a wheelchair," Ariel Ottolenghi, the basketball coordinator at Beit Halochem Tel Aviv said.

 

 

Akiva Katz
Akiva Katz

Danny Cohen, a disabled IDF veteran and Akiva's best friend, told Ynet: "We would see each other on a daily basis. We have been traveling to the Dead Sea together for the past 25 years. We travelled together all the time."

 

"We met at Beit Halochem. Since I know him so well, I recognized his wheelchair in pictures posted on Ynet. I also recognized his helmet and the flag of Beit Halochem. He purchased the helmet a few days ago and posted a Facebook picture of it along with a caption saying it is safe.

 

"I have not fully comprehended what happened. This is the happiest and most optimistic person there is. It's shocking," Cohen said.

 

 

The scene of the accident (Photo: Yair Sagi)
The scene of the accident (Photo: Yair Sagi)

 

The report of a car accident was delivered to the MDA Dan Region at 8:16am. Medics started treating Katz at the scene and evacuated him to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center while performing CPR.

 

The 59-year-old driver of the Hummer, was released after being questioned by the police under restrictive conditions. The driver's license was revoked for 90 days and his vehicle was seized until the investigation of the Traffic Bureau concludes.

 

 

The scene of the accident in Tel Aviv (Photo: Yair Sagi)
The scene of the accident in Tel Aviv (Photo: Yair Sagi)

 

Oded Gal, a MDA medic told reporters: "I was on my way to the station when I received a report about an accident in a street nearby. Parts of the wheelchair that was completely broken were scattered on the road. A man was lying on the road near the vehicle. He was unconscious and in critical condition. Assisted by the MDA's Mobile Intensive Care Unit, we gave him advanced medical treatment and evacuated him to the nearest hospital."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.29.18, 23:30
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