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According to preliminary reports, the accident involves a passenger bus and a truck. There appears to be many injured. A mass casualty incident has been declared.

MDA has activated responders from the Negev, Ayalon and other districts. Ditto for Ichud Hatzalah.

13:05: It appears the accident is a number of kilometers after Soreq Interchange in the direction of Kiryat Gat (southbound).

13:07:
Zaka units responding along with others. According to preliminary report from the scene, one fatality and at least 15 injured, various degrees of injuries.

13:10:
Zaka confirming one fatality and 20 injured, including some in serious condition.

13:14:
Ichud Hatzalah reporting as many as 30 injured.

13:16:
Zaka reports 30 injured including one fatality and four victims in serious condition.

13:35:
Update from combined sources. The bus involved in the accident is from the SuperBus Company, not Egged. It appears the truck is a garbage truck. The number of injuries is now being reported at 35 including 3 fatalities. At least one of the victims is in critical condition. Some of the victims are trapped and rescue workers are trying to extricate them.

13:32:
ZAKA reports the death toll has risen to four. There are 8 MDA basic life support ambulances and 7 paramedic ambulances operating on the scene along with many Ichud Hatzalah ambucycles, an Ichud Hatzalah ambulance, and Zaka units. An air force chopper has landed in the area for possible airlift of victims.

13:43:
Zaka reports the air force is airlifting two seriously injured victims from Highway 6 to the trauma unit of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

13:46:
Ichud Hatzalah: The bus involved in the accident is from the Metropolin Company and not the SuperBus Company as reported by Zaka earlier. It appears to have been a 377 bus traveling from Rishon L’Tzion to Beersheva. Injured passengers were transported to Kaplan Hospital (Rehovot), Barzilai Hospital (Ashkelon), Soroka Hospital (Beersheva) and Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital (Jerusalem).

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Chadashot 24)