Heroic Bus Driver Sacrifices Life to Save 30 Soldiers in Head-On Collision

By Вести-Ynet

Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba

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Avshalom Ravivo, a 61-year-old bus driver from Ashdod, died on October 14 after swerving to avoid a head-on collision with a truck, saving the lives of approximately 30 soldiers on board. The incident occurred on Highway 91 when the truck entered Ravivo's lane. Ravivo's wife and employer praised his heroic actions, and the Organization of Public Transport Drivers is seeking a posthumous award for his sacrifice. Some soldiers sustained minor injuries, while the truck driver was seriously injured.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Bus driver Avshalom Ravivo died on October 14 while saving approximately 30 soldiers from a truck collision.
Ravivo swerved his bus to absorb the impact on the driver's side, sacrificing himself.
The accident occurred on Highway 91 when a truck entered the bus's lane.
Ravivo's wife and employer described his actions as heroic and in character.
The Organization of Public Transport Drivers is seeking a posthumous state award for Ravivo.
The truck driver sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to a hospital.

Heroic Bus Driver Sacrifices Life to Save 30 Soldiers in Head-On Collision — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

A fatal road accident on Highway 91 in northern Israel on Wednesday, October 14, claimed the life of 61-year-old Avshalom Ravivo, a resident of Ashdod. Ravivo, a driver for the transport company Has'aot Ha'Movil Ha'Artzi, was transporting approximately 30 soldiers from Tel Nof Airbase to northern Israel when a truck suddenly swerved into his lane from oncoming traffic. In a split-second decision, Ravivo steered his bus sharply to the right, absorbing the full impact of the collision on the driver's side. This maneuver is credited with saving the lives of the soldiers on board, though some sustained minor injuries and were taken to Ziv Medical Center in Safed.

Firefighters and rescue teams worked for an extended period to extract Ravivo from the mangled driver's cabin. Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver, a man around 50 years old, suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. Ravivo, who had been married for 26 years and had three children, was remembered by his wife, Vered, as a hero. Soldiers from the bus attended his funeral, with their commander telling Vered, "He saved 30 of my children."

Doron Shokrani, owner of Has'aot Ha'Movil Ha'Artzi, described Ravivo as an experienced, dedicated, and responsible driver who had worked for the company for four years. Shokrani stated that police investigation indicates the truck entered Ravivo's lane. He emphasized that Ravivo's decision to swerve right, rather than left, meant he took the brunt of the impact, saving the soldiers. The company plans to review security camera footage from the bus on Sunday to reconstruct the event.

The Organization of Public Transport Drivers, part of the National Union Federation Histadrut Leumit, has called for Ravivo to be posthumously honored for his heroism. The organization noted that such emergency scenarios are part of driver training and that Ravivo's actions, while resulting in his death, prevented a far worse tragedy for the soldiers. They believe he deserves a state award for his bravery.