A 69-year-old woman was killed and 50 people were injured on Sunday when a bus and a truck collided near the Nahal Sorek Junction. Two people sustained moderate wounds, and the rest suffer from minor injuries. Magen David Adom teams are treating the wounded. A helicopter was dispatched to help clear the victims.
Police are currently gathering evidence which suggest that the truck driver was trying to make a left turn, apparently into an army vase. It is currently believed that he did not give right of way to the bus driver who did not manage to stop in time and crashed into the truck. The truck driver has been detained for questioning.
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MDA official Ami Ivgi told Ynet that the victims suffer from various contusions. He noted they are being treated at Beersheba's Soroka Medical Center, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center and Rehovot's Kaplan Medical Center.
Scene of collision (Photo: Meni Azriel, 24 News)
Yair Sten of the United Hatzalah organization said that rescue forces had to pull out the bus driver who was trapped inside the ruins of the vehicle.
MDA spokesman Ron Ratner said, "The Egged bus left Beersheba for Jerusalem at 8:55 am. The accident likely occurred when the truck moved into the bus' lane. Egged investigators are at the scene."
- Earlier this month, eight people, mostly Palestinian children, were killed and at least 40 others were injured when a bus and a truck collided in Adam Square in northern Jerusalem.
Ilana Curiel, Eli Senyor and Aviel Magnezi contributed to this report
First published: 11:50, 02.26.12