Last update - 00:00 07/02/2007
Police arrest suspect in fatal hit-and-run in Sharon region
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
Police on Wednesday arrested a 20-year-old resident of the Sharon region town of Ilaniya on suspicion that he ran over and killed a pedestrian near Moshav Basra last week, and fled from the scene.
The suspect will be bought in for an extension of his remand at the Kfar Saba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The victim, 34-year old Yehoshua Yegudayev of Hadera, was walking on Highway 4 when he was hit. Another pedestrian found Yegudayev's body in a ditch next to the road.
Sharon district police immediately opened an investigation to locate the driver responsible, but could not find any eyewitnesses to assist, even though the accident took place at around 19:00, during rush-hour.
Police then issued a statement to the public asking for information on any cars with damage to the right-hand front, but received little information.
Nonetheless, police detectives arrived at the suspect's house overnight Wednesday and arrested him for questioning after an examination of his car revealed damage consistent with the accident.
During his interrogation, the suspect recollected that he was in fact on the road at the specified hour, coming home after visiting friends in Lod. According to the suspect, he hit something while driving, but thought it was a wild boar and continued driving.
Police say the suspect concealed evidence and obstructed justice by washing his car.