January 7, 2013

SYDNEY (JTA) – An Israeli woman who was the co-founder of a pharmaceuticals company based in Israel was killed in a car accident in New Zealand.

Irit Wilder, 61, was a passenger in a rental car on Jan. 5 with another Israeli couple when the car careered off the road and smashed into a tree near Te Anau in New Zealand’s south island, local police confirmed.

Wilder, who lived in Kiryat Tivon, died at the scene. The two other accupants of the car were treated for injuries. Wilder’s husband was traveling in another car just ahead.

Police said they were investigating the cause of the crash and said it was too early to determine if charges would be brought against the driver.

Wilder, who was chief executive of Medicalix, is expected to be flown home to Israel for burial this week.
 

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