Drunk Dan Bus Driver Causes Passenger Injury in Tel Aviv, Faces Charges

Traffic police in the Yarkon area arrested a Dan bus driver from Holon in his fifties on suspicion of drunk driving after a passenger fell and was lightly injured on Herzog Street in Tel Aviv. The driver was tested at the scene and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 664 micrograms per liter, nearly 13 times the legal limit for public transport drivers.

The injured passenger, Nava Sinai, described how she had just boarded the bus and was the last to get on when the driver suddenly accelerated before she could sit down, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. Sinai remains bedridden with pain all over her body and said no one from the bus company has contacted her since the incident. Her family reported that the driver braked sharply, throwing her forward onto her face and hands.

Police arrived following reports of the fall and detected alcohol on the driver's breath. After breathalyzer and further testing confirmed intoxication, the driver was arrested and later released under restrictive conditions. His license was revoked, and charges are expected to be filed.

Traffic officer Oren Buani emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting that public transport drivers have a very low permissible alcohol level due to their responsibility for passengers' safety. He added that recent increases in bus-related accidents have led to stricter enforcement against public transport drivers to protect passengers.

Sinai expressed shock that a driver in such condition was allowed on the road and said her family no longer permits her to take buses. She criticized the bus company for neglecting her after the accident and highlighted the trust passengers place in drivers' sobriety and professionalism.