Taxi driver attacked at 100 km/h crashes into barrier to save himself
Three young men are accused of attempting to rob a taxi driver they summoned on Highway 31. While the vehicle was moving at 100 km/h, the suspects beat and choked the driver. To stop the assault and protect other road users, the driver steered the taxi into a concrete barrier.
The State Attorney's Office has filed an indictment in the Be'er Sheva District Court against three young men accused of planning to rob a taxi driver. They summoned him to a pickup point on Highway 31 and attacked him with punches and choking while the vehicle was traveling at approximately 100 km/h. The assault continued until the driver, attempting to stop the attack and mitigate the danger to other road users, steered the taxi into a concrete separation barrier.
The defendants are Nadi Al-Aasam, 18, from Abu Tulul; Nehorai Stolof, 19, from Kiryat Ata; and Yaakov Yosef Shaul Moshkovich, 19, from Bnei Brak. The indictment, filed by Adv. Wassim Abu Amar of the Southern District Attorney's Office, charges the trio with attempted robbery under aggravated circumstances and endangering human life on a public road.
According to the indictment, the three summoned the taxi to a location on Highway 31 between Arad and Kuseife. Upon arrival, they boarded the vehicle and requested a ride to Be'er Sheva.
Shortly after the journey began, Al-Aasam donned a mask and gloves, while Stolof put on gloves. Al-Aasam warned the driver: "Sit quietly, drive to Be'er Sheva, don't stop for the police or call them, and don't make any mistakes."
"I am hitting a wall or a pole"
As the taxi traveled at 100 km/h, Al-Aasam began striking the driver in the face. Stolof joined the assault, and the two continued to beat and choke the driver while he struggled to maintain control of the vehicle.
The taxi began swerving across the road, endangering nearby traffic. Attempting to force the attackers to stop, the driver warned them: "I am hitting a wall or a pole." When the assault persisted, he steered the vehicle into the concrete barrier to end the threat to other drivers.
Even after the collision, the incident continued. The driver attempted to escape, but Al-Aasam and Stolof continued to strike him, trying to prevent his exit. Eventually, the driver managed to escape, and the three defendants fled the scene on foot.
In the motion to remand the defendants until the end of proceedings, Adv. Abu Amar highlighted the severity of the violent crime. The case was investigated by the Dimona-Rotem police station.
