Bus Driver Dies, 19 Injured in Northern Israel Collision

A 61-year-old bus driver was killed and 19 others were injured when his bus collided with a truck on Route 91 in northern Israel on Wednesday afternoon. The truck driver, in his 50s, sustained serious injuries, particularly to his lower limbs, and was airlifted to the hospital after receiving initial treatment at the scene. Eighteen bus passengers suffered minor injuries and were transported to Ziv Medical Center in Safed for further care. Emergency services reported receiving the call at noon and found the bus driver trapped inside, unconscious and without vital signs. Despite resuscitation efforts conducted concurrently with his extrication, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A paramedic described the crash as severe, noting extensive damage to the front of the bus and the complexity of freeing the trapped driver. Fire and rescue teams also participated in the rescue operations. Following the incident, police closed Route 91 in both directions and launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, urging drivers to use alternative routes.