Bus driver killed, dozens wounded in collision with tractor near Netivot

Jerusalem Post/Israel NewsThe bus was carrying a group of girls on a trip. Rescuers evacuated 23 lightly wounded people to Soroka and Barzilai hospitals, and two others were moderately hurt.Follow us on Google A rescue helicopter arrives at the scene of the accident near Netivot. (Credit: In accordance with Article 27a of Israel's copyright law)OCTOBER 30, 2026 08:39Updated: OCTOBER 30, 2026 09:03A bus driver was killed, and dozens of people were wounded after a bus carrying a group of girls on a trip collided with a tractor on Route 25 near the Beit HaGadi Junction, close to the entrance to the town of Shibolim, on Friday morning.Rescuers evacuated 23 lightly wounded people, 15 to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and eight to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Walla reported. Two others, listed in moderate condition, were rescued from the bus. The tractor driver was lightly hurt, according to the report.According to the initial report from the Fire and Rescue Services, the bus was carrying a group of girls on their way to a trip.United Hatzalah said its medical teams provided initial treatment at the scene to a number of wounded people, some of them children, with injuries of varying severity.A report of a road accident between a tractor and a bus was received at Magen David Adom’s (MDA) 101 emergency call center at 8:02 a.m., the medical service said.The scene of the bus crash on Route 25 near Netivot on Friday, October 30, 2026. (credit: ZAKA)Emergency responders rescue people trapped inside the busSouthern District police officers arrived at the scene and were working with emergency and rescue services, police said. Firefighters from the Netivot station worked to extract people trapped inside the bus, the Israel Fire and Rescue Services’ Southern District said.After the accident, the road was closed to westbound traffic, and traffic police directed vehicles at the scene. Police accident investigators have opened an investigation into the crash.Follow us on Google