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Driver Who Hit Teen in Hadera Released to House Arrest: 'It's Clear the Guilty Ones Are Those Who Chased Him'
Mahmoud Samhat was arrested following the fatal hit-and-run of Amihi Atia from Itamar last week. The judge determined from investigation materials that Samhat did not hit Atia intentionally, and that account must be taken of the fact that he fled at the time from a crowd that was chasing him.
· Source: Haaretz. Photo as published in the article.
The Hadera Magistrate's Court released to house arrest Mahmoud Samhat, suspected in the fatal hit-and-run of teen Amihi Atia from Itamar last week, after determining he did not intentionally hit him and fled from a crowd that was chasing him.
The Hadera Magistrate's Court released today (Thursday) to house arrest the driver suspected of hitting teen Amihi Atia in the city last week. The driver, 21-year-old Mahmoud Samhat from Kfar Manda, fatally hit 17-year-old Atia from the Itamar settlement while fleeing from a large group of youths who were chasing him. Judge Ahuad Kaplan said that "it's quite clear the guilty ones in this tragic outcome are those people who chased him, not him," and added that Samhat's role in the incident will be determined as the investigation continues.
Samhat was investigated on suspicion of fatal hit-and-run with reckless driving endangering road users and passengers, endangering human life on a transport route, abandonment and reckless driving of a vehicle. Kaplan determined from investigation materials that Samhat did not intentionally hit Atia, and that at this stage "it is at most negligence, and even that is not at a high level." He added that Samhat does not deny hitting Atia, but fled from a crowd that was chasing him and feared they would lynch him, and these circumstances must be considered. Samhat will remain under house arrest until Oct. 1.
According to Samhat, he arrived at the compound to unload goods as part of his work, and dozens of people began to gather around him and chase him after they were angry that he unloaded goods at the time prayers of penitence were being held at the site. According to him, he felt his life was in danger and quickly fled the area without noticing he had hit Atia. A Hadera resident and member of the guard unit shot at him, and he was wounded in his hand. Police initially involved Shin Bet in the investigation, but the agency withdrew after it was determined the incident's background was criminal, not nationalistic.
