Renowned Israeli psychologist Shlomo Bentin was killed Friday afternoon while riding his bicycle in Berkeley, California,
Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

Bentin was hit by a dump truck as he was bicycling near the University of California, Berkeley.
Police officers who were dispatched to the scene said his helmet had been shattered.

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Passersby and paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead a short while later at Oakland's Highland Hospital.

Professor Bentin, 65, won the Israel Prize
in psychology for 2012 for his scientific contributions to psychology and neuropsychology.

According to reports, the driver of the dump truck did notice that he had hit Bentin. He eventually returned to the scene of the accident, where he was questioned by investigators. He fully cooperated with the police and was not arrested, local news stations said.

About a year ago Professor Bentin and his wife, Attorney Miri Bentin, moved to Berkley, where he continued his groundbreaking research on face perception. The couple was supposed to return to Israel
in September to be closer to their three children and seven grandchildren.

The professor's daughter, Einat Bentin-Kaplan, told Yedioth that her father was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed cycling and skiing.

"Father was a fascinating man with vast knowledge in various fields," she said. "He was a warm person who always gave good advice. He was thrilled to receive the Israel Prize and considered it a great honor."

Tamar Trabelsi-Hadad and Eti Abramov contributed to the report

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