81-Year-Old Gas Station Worker Killed After Altercation with Truck Driver

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A Dispute Turns Fatal at the Nir Banim Junction

The incident began around 9:12 AM on Friday morning near the Nir Banim junction in the Lachish region. While initial reports often frame such events as tragic accidents, investigators have identified a more violent catalyst. According to [Kikar HaShabbat](https://www.kikar.co.il/israel-news/fatal-truck-incident-investigation), a preliminary investigation suggests that a heated argument broke out between the truck driver and the victim just before the collision occurred. The victim, Gabi Kamin, was an employee at a local gas station. Following the collision, officers from the Kiryat Malachi station arrested the driver, a 55-year-old resident of Haifa. The suspect was taken into custody and transferred for questioning as authorities transitioned the case from a traffic investigation to a potential homicide inquiry.

Desperate Resuscitation Efforts at the Scene

Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the 9:12 AM dispatch. As [Mako](https://www.mako.co.il/men-men_news/Article-e62ad4a20679e91027.htm) reported, MADA paramedics and first responders found the elderly man with extremely severe injuries and immediately began life-saving measures. “We saw the pedestrian unconscious, without a pulse and without breathing with very severe injuries to his body, after being hit by a truck. We provided advanced medical treatment that included prolonged resuscitation efforts but unfortunately we had no choice but to declare his death.”Zvi Zilberman, MADA Paramedic Deputy Chief Superintendent Eliyahu Shamul, the Lachish District Commander, arrived at the site to oversee a comprehensive situational assessment. He coordinated with traffic accident examiners and criminal investigators to secure the scene and collect evidence, emphasizing the need to exhaust all investigative avenues to uncover the full circumstances of the death.

A Beloved Member of the Nir Banim Community

The death of Gabi Kamin has left a significant void in the local community. Colleagues at the gas station noted the suddenness of the tragedy, with one worker stating that Kamin had been alone at the time of the incident and could not account for the exact sequence of events. The personal toll of the incident was highlighted by Kamin’s family, who described him as a pillar of the local area. Speaking to [Ynet](https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyd00vuezmg), his daughter expressed the profound loss felt by those who knew him. “He was a kind father and grandfather, a beloved figure among customers and local residents.”Kamin’s daughter, via Ynet

A Rising Tide of Fatalities in the Lachish Region

Beyond the immediate criminal investigation, the incident has raised alarms regarding road safety in the Lachish district. ZAKA volunteers, including Aharon Zano, Yugav Malich, and Neti Shahaf, worked at the scene to preserve the dignity of the deceased and collect evidence for burial preparations. The frequency of recent accidents in the area has led local officials to call for urgent public awareness. As [Bhol](https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1729623) reported, ZAKA commander Aharon Drabi noted that this event marks the fourth fatality in the Lachish region in less than one week. “This is the fourth fatality in less than a week in the Lachish region, where all the fatal incidents occurred in the same area. On this past Monday, a pedestrian was killed on Highway 3 near Hodia, and a young man and woman were killed in a serious accident on Highway 232 near Kochav Michael, and this morning another pedestrian at the Nir Banim junction. These data must light a red flag for all of us. We call on the driving and pedestrian public to show responsibility, patience and increased alertness to prevent the next disaster.”Aharon Drabi, ZAKA Commander The suspect is scheduled to appear before the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court later today. There, police will present their request to extend his detention as the investigation into the motive and the legality of the driver’s actions continues.