Deadly Collision in Northern Israel Kills One, Injures Nine Including Children

A severe traffic accident occurred Sunday afternoon on Route 98 near the Afik Junction in the Jordan area of the Golan Heights. The crash involved a private car and a minibus, resulting in one fatality and nine injuries, including at least five children. Emergency services received the first report at 15:32 and quickly dispatched multiple rescue teams to the scene.

Upon arrival, paramedics found one of the vehicles crushed and pushed off the road into dense vegetation. Inside the wrecked car, a 35-year-old man was discovered unconscious and without vital signs. Despite extensive medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe multi-system trauma. Nine other victims were treated and evacuated to Poriya Medical Center in stable condition, including a 30-year-old man with moderate injuries and eight others with minor wounds.

Rescue teams from the Galil-Golan Fire Station used hydraulic equipment to extract the trapped victim. Firefighter commander Lahav Amal Batash described the operation as complex and emphasized their efforts to secure the area and search for additional casualties. The Israel Police traffic investigators arrived to collect evidence and determine the cause of the crash. Route 98 was closed for an extended period to facilitate emergency response and investigation.

Paramedics and volunteers from United Hatzalah reported heavy traffic congestion due to the accident. Medical personnel highlighted the severity of the collision and the challenges of providing immediate care amid the difficult scene. The investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing.