Uri (left) and Yosef (right)
Uri (left) and Yosef (right)Courtesy of the families

The two victims killed in a traffic accident in Samaria early Tuesday morning have been identified as residents of the Israeli town of Ofra, north of Jerusalem.

The victims, Uri Mendel and Yosef Amichai, both residents of Ofra in their 30s, were killed when a truck and a private car collided on Route 60, near the Israeli town of Eli in Samaria.

Amichai is survived by his wife, Shoshanna Amichai (nee Galant). Mendel is survived by his wife Renana Mendel (nee Shayowits).

A third Ofra resident, Eldan Turgeman, was injured in the accident, and is listed in moderate-to-serious condition.

A four person, identified as a man in his 30s who was driving the truck, has been listed in moderate condition.

The funeral procession for Yosef Amichai is scheduled to leave from the central synagogue in Ofra towards the town's cemetery at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Uri Mendel will be laid to rest at the Pardes Chaim cemetery in Kfar Saba at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Binyamin Regional Council, which includes Ofra, issued a statement Tuesday morning lamenting the deaths of the two residents, and called on the government to take steps to make Route 60 safer for drivers.

“We share the pain of the town of Ofra over the terrible deaths of two of the town’s residents in a traffic accident this morning, and we wish the injured victim, also a resident of Ofra, a speedy recovery.”

"Route 60 is a road that is red [with blood], and takes a heavy tool on Jews and Arabs alike every week. It has to be turned into a two-lane road with a separation fence just like any other urban highway in the country. The time has come for the Israeli government to take responsibility and prevent this terrible and unnecessary death. The head of the council and professional teams have been in Ofra this morning, helping the community and accompanying the families."