Hatzalah director, of Cedarhurst, dead after being hit by a car

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Dr. Richie Friedman, a Cedarhurst resident and Hatzalah director, was walking north in the roadway on Washington Avenue between Donmoor Road and Broadway in Lawrence, when he was struck by a 2016 BMW also headed north at 5:39 p.m. on Dec. 1, according to Nassau County police.

Friedman, 55, suffered a traumatic head injury and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The driver, a man, 44 had remained at the scene. He was not injured. Friedman was reported to be walking home from synagogue.

A brake and safety inspection were conducted at the scene. The vehicle remained with the motorist. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

“Tragedy struck on Motzei Shabbos, when Dr. Richie Friedman was killed walking from synagogue,” Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony D’Esposito posted on Twitter. “A void has been left in the Five Towns and us first responder have lost a valued, loving member of our family. He will remain in my prayers.”

Friedman was the medical director of Hatzalah of New York City, which includes all five boroughs, in Monsey in Rockland County and in the Catskills. Before moving to the Five Towns, he was an East Side Hatzalah member, and was one of the founding members of Hatzalah of the West Side more than 30 years ago, according to Yeshiva World News.

There will be a service at the Bobover Beis Medrash in Boro Park, 15th Ave. and 48th Street, at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday. Another service will take place at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway at 257 Beach 17th Street at 1 p.m.

In a 2015 article by Rochelle Maruch Miller it was noted that mention of his name to his many patients would “surely elicit unabashed praise.”

Friedman is survived by his father Ira Friedman, his wife Cheryl Friedman and children Shoshana, Elana, Adina, Tzippora, Shmuel Aryeh, Mikey, Devorah and Yosef Shlomo.