Police have concluded the investigation into the December bus accident near Eilat that claimed the lives of 24 people, visiting tourist operators from the FSU. Many others were injured, some seriously.
Police have determined the driver, Edward Gelfund, was traveling at an excessive speed, leading to the worst vehicular accident in the nation’s history. Police are stating with absolute certainty that the “erroneous judgment” of the driver was the cause, “excessive speed for existing road conditions.”
The accident occurred north of Eilat on December 16, 2008, during the afternoon hours. 49 tour operators from St. Petersburg arrived earlier in the day. Police commanders involved in the investigation stated that Gelfund was traveling in excess of the 80KPH (48MPH) speed limit, reporting at the time he lost control on the turn, the bus was traveling at 98 KPH (59MPH).
Experts involved in the investigation report the safety systems on the bus were operational and the cause of the fatal accident was “human error,” nothing more.
Gelfund remains under house arrest and police are recommending the district attorney move ahead with a criminal indictment against him.
For background on the accident, see a YWN previous article by clicking HERE.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
WHAT!!!??? You call deliberate belligerence “human error, nothing more??” I think the man should be brought up on murder charges for the 24 deaths, and attempted murder charges for everyone else involved in the incident.