Update on Victims of the Bus Accident in Shomron [UPDATED 2:32PM IL]

[VIDEOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

13:24: The spokesman for Hadassah Hospital, Hadar Elboim, reports a ‘mass casualty incident’ has also been declared in the trauma unit and emergency room as the facility expects to receive many of the injured from the bus accident in the Shomron.

Officials in Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv report 10 victims from the hospital have arrived with two in moderate condition and the other light condition.

Two patients have arrived in Beilinson Hospital, in moderate and light condition.

13:45 IL:

• Shaare Zedek Hospital: 13 victims, all in light condition.
• MDA treated a total of 42 victims. One was pronounced dead on the scene, one person listed as serious, three moderate and the remainder light.
• Hadassah Mt. Scopus: 10 accident victims ranging in age from 19-21. All are in light condition and conscious.
• Beilinson Hospital: Two victims with non-life-threatening injuries.
• Tel Hashomer Hospital. 10 victims of the accident have arrived in the trauma unit and emergency room.

14:32: Israel Police accident investigator Chief superintendent Moshe Cohen is operating on the scene of the bus accident. He explains that weather and road conditions today are very good and there was no rain in the area. He added “there is not a good chance” that an outside factor other than the driver error contributed to the accident. He stated a preliminary inspection of the bus has not revealed any mechanical issues.

Cohen admits it is too soon to make any determination but adds the bus left Kochav Yair and was heading towards Rimonim when the driver lost control on a curve and the armor-plated vehicle flipped a number of times, landing on its left side. He admits that excessive speed may have been the cause, but it is too early to make such a determination as the vehicle’s tachograph is being studied.

Hadassah Hospitals Deputy Director Dr. Asher Salmon explains receiving a total of 15 victims of the accident; with 10 in Mt. Scopus and 5 in Ein Kerem.

He details they are all in light condition and it is likely many will be discharged before Shabbos. When asked about the bus driver he stated he is stable and his injuries are not serious.