10:01 IL: A driver from a PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous area on Sunday morning 22 Elul 5772 struck and Israeli man on Route 5 in Shomron between the communities of Oranit and Elkana. The person, who is described as “a senior area security official” was critically injured. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the victim was pronounced dead a short time after.

11:25: The security officer who was killed earlier saw a suspicious vehicle on the main road and signaled the driver to stop. The driver, a PA resident, did not stop and he slammed into the victim and drove off. At this time police are signaling the incident was a ‘hit-and-run’ and not terror, but investigators are not eliminating the possibility that the fatal incident was Arab terror.

The victim, who was the security officer of the community of Shaare Tikvah, was transported by MDA paramedics to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah as advanced life support resuscitation efforts continued. He was pronounced dead in the emergency room. His identity is not yet cleared for release.

Security officials are treating the fatal incident as a terror attack at this time based on the initial evidence gathered in the preliminary investigation.

15:44 IL: The name of the security officer killed in the hit-and-run is Lior Farchi z”l, 43. He served as security officer in Shaare Tikvah. A military levaya is scheduled for the Segula Cemetery on Sunday evening. The investigation to determine if it was a terror attack continues.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)