The driver of the Kavim Company bus involved in the fatal crash on Sunday, on Route 443, in which two Modi’in Illit residents were killed, was convicted of no less than 29 traffic violations in the past!
The driver was questioned by police traffic accident investigation experts earlier this week as reported, and it has since been confirmed that the 29-year-old driver, has amassed no less than 29 traffic convictions, including driving with a suspended license, which he did not report to his employer, Kavim Bus Company. In 2015, he was convicted of crossing a solid line and a dangerous pass of another vehicle. He was driving his private vehicle at the time, not a bus, and therefore, Kavim never learned of the offense or conviction and suspended license. He continued driving a bus as if nothing had occurred.
Police investigators have interviewed passengers from the bus, and some reported he was driving at an acceptable speed, while others told police his driving was “driving like meshuga “.
Kavim officials report that when he was hired in October 2014, they were unaware of any traffic convictions. In addition, during his employ, he participated in continuing education including classes on road safety, driving in summer and winter conditions and proper driving classes.
It should be noted that during the visit to the injured by the director-general of Kavim at the hospitals on the day of the incident, a number of passengers described to him, “a cautious driver on the day of the incident, noting that the incident was not the driver’s fault. They said they would testify in favor of the driver if necessary,” the company said.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
The transportation ministry is a waste of time and taxpayer money. How does a bus company hire drivers without first doing basic check on their history and repeated reports every year. ??? Not to mention spot checking by plain clothes inspectors to be sure no texting while driving. Yes i have seen that too ….
Roi Yanovsky is the police spokesman, not the driver
It is inconceivable that the accident was anything but the fault of the Hatzala volunteer who frivolously stopped his van, almost completely blocking the left lane of the highway serving vehicles travelling at 100 km per hour.
This driver’s past means nothing. Worst case scenario, he was speeding- not above 100 kmh, because the bus is limited to that speed, and he was traveling up an incline, going around a bend. Suddenly there’s a van parked in his lane! How can it be his fault- even partially!