Bus Driver Killed, 19 Injured in Highway 91 Crash

A 61-year-old bus driver was killed and 19 others were injured in a severe collision between a bus and a truck on Highway 91 near the Machanaiim junction in the Upper Galilee. The truck driver, approximately 50 years old, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Eighteen passengers, all around 20 years old, suffered minor injuries and were transported to Ziv Hospital.

Emergency services, including Magen David Adom paramedics, arrived at the scene to find the bus driver trapped in his vehicle, unconscious, without a pulse or breathing. After complex extrication efforts and resuscitation attempts, medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. The truck driver suffered severe injuries to his lower limbs and was evacuated by helicopter for further medical treatment.

The passengers, identified as young adults around 20 years old, were treated by MDA and taken by ambulance to Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat. Paramedics described the scene as "horrific," with significant damage to the front of both vehicles.

Police and traffic accident investigators are examining the circumstances of the crash. Highway 91 was closed to traffic in both directions following the incident, and drivers were advised to use alternative routes and stay updated on traffic arrangements.