Hit-and-run driver kills 3 family members in Netanya
Police searching for Shushan Baraby, suspect in accident; court extends remand of Yochai Glicksman, who initially confessed to crime before changing story.
By BEN HARTMANPolice car in Tel Aviv at night 311(photo credit: Yoni Cohen)
Three family members were killed in a gruesome hit-and-run accident, including a mother and daughter, as they crossed the street in Netanya on Friday night.Police were searching for one of the people in the car, 35-year-old Shushan Baraby, who they said was seen fleeing the scene on foot. Police sent out a call to the public on Friday night asking if anyone has seen Baraby to please contact them immediately.Police said they have not determined if Baraby was driving on Friday night or if a second man, 26-year-old Yochai Glicksman – who turned himself in shortly after the accident – was at the wheel of the car, an Audi sedan that police said belonged to Baraby.They added on Saturday that Glicksman was not intoxicated.On Saturday, Glicksman’s wife came to his defense, telling reporters that her husband was asleep at home when the accident took place. His attorney said on Saturday that her client did initially confess to driving the car, before changing his story.On Saturday night, the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court extended Glicksman's remand by five days.The victims of the hit-and-run were Svetlana Yigudiyev, 56, and her daughter Shoshana Yigudiyev, 25, both from Dimona, and her cousin Alexandra Rubinov, 67, from Netanya. They were scheduled to be laid to rest on Sunday.They were on a crosswalk on Ben-Tzvi Boulevard at 8 p.m. on Friday, when Baraby’s vehicle hit them, police said. The car was reportedly traveling well over the speed limit.Though Netanya police would not comment on Baraby’s record, it has been widely reported since Friday night that he has a long criminal record, including several violent offenses.He is reportedly a member of the Abutbul crime family.
Friday’s accident took place almost a year after 25-year-old Lee Zeitouni was killed when she was run over while using a pedestrian crossing in north Tel Aviv. The driver of the car that hit Zeitouni and one of the passengers, both citizens of France, fled Israel immediately after the accident.Police did not say whether they fear that Baraby may try to flee the country.
