Last update - 00:00 13/03/2007
Prosecutors: Driver in deadly crash used cocaine, pot, alcohol
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
The driver who last week ran a red light at high speed and caused a crash near Lod that killed six people, one of them his twin brother, was under the influence of cocaine and marijuana, and was three times over the legal alcohol limit at the time, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The driver, Yaron Bracha, was the only survivor of the crash five days ago. He remains hospitalized in serious condition, and under a formal state of house arrest.
Bracha was indicted for six counts of manslaughter in the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday. He was also charged with drug use violations.
According to the indictment, the concentration of alcohol in Bracha's blood after the accident was recorded as 158 mg per liter, while the allowed level for driving is 50 mg.
The indictment states that the crash occurred when Bracha, driving at high speed, drove through a red light to enter the Ginaton intersection, hitting a Hyundai car containing five Egged employees. All five were killed, as well as Bracha's brother, Eyal, who was in the car with him.
"It was shocking. It looked like a war zone," said Yonatan Keinan, a Magen David Adom paramedic who witnessed the accident. "I've been working for MDA for six years; I've dealt with innumerable accidents. But I can't remember another accident this shocking."
Bracha was allegedly driving at least 171 kilometers per hour in an area with a speed limit of 90 kilometers per hour.
The five victims in the other car were named as driver Yitzhak Cohen, 42, of Ashdod, and Ashkelon residents Moshe Ben-Gigi, 44; Aharon Benishi, 55; Michael Kashpur, 28; and Yona David, 51.