Drunk forklift driver kills coworker in northern Israel factory

Footage released by police (Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson)

A 26-year-old Sri Lankan national was arrested on suspicion of running over and killing a coworker at a factory in Kfar Buqei'a-Nujeidat in northern Israel, after operating a forklift while intoxicated outside of work hours. This morning, the Northern District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against the suspect on multiple charges, including negligent homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The incident occurred on October 14 in the evening hours, when a call came in to Israel Police's emergency hotline reporting a workplace accident at the factory. Northern District officers and forensic investigators were dispatched to the scene and began collecting evidence and investigating the circumstances of the incident.

At the scene, medical teams pronounced dead a 38-year-old Sri Lankan factory worker. The suspect was arrested at the scene by Northern District officers and taken to the police station, where a comprehensive investigation was opened.

The investigation revealed that the suspect, who does not hold a driver's license, was operating the forklift outside of work hours while under the influence of alcohol. Despite calls from other workers who witnessed the incident and tried to prevent him from continuing to drive, he continued and ran over his friend.

The suspect's detention was extended repeatedly, and this morning the Northern District Prosecutor's Office, through attorney Tal Hazan, filed an indictment against him. The charges attributed to him include negligent homicide, reckless driving that caused serious bodily harm, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Chief Inspector Gal Prakash, head of the investigations and intelligence division at the Tiberias station, said: "This is an especially difficult scene, in which a worker lost his life in tragic circumstances, as a result of the defendant's driving under the influence of alcohol. In the video that documented the incident, you can see how factory workers tried to prevent the continuation of the drive and even shouted at the defendant to stop, but he continued driving and caused the death of his friend."

Prakash added: "The combination of alcohol consumption and driving any vehicle is extremely dangerous, and in this case, driving a powerful forklift ended in the loss of human life."

The incident joins a series of fatal workplace accidents that have occurred in recent months at various workplaces across the country. In recent weeks, several similar cases have been recorded, including the collapse of a crane in Ramat Gan that led to the death of a construction worker.

Police are expected to continue the investigation and examine the full circumstances of the incident, including the employer's responsibility for supervising workers and work equipment outside of official work hours.