Sunday’s fatal vehicular accident on Highway 6 involving a bus and garbage truck left four people dead and 39 injured, with four of them listed in serious condition.

The media coverage surrounding the tragic event seeks to highlight the tragic loss of life and questions who is to blame. It was a sunny dry day and road conditions were optimal. The tractor trailer pulling two dumpsters containing garbage pulled off to the right shoulder near Soreq interchange in the southbound direction. The Metropolin Company bus number 377 was heading from Rishon L’Tzion to Beersheva when the right side of the bus caught the rear left of the parked truck, tearing the bus on its right side and peeling a portion back. Some of the passengers were flown from the vehicle while others were trapped inside. The second dumpster of garbage from the truck flipped on its side.

Magen David Adom Chief of Operations Eli Bin calls on the experts to learn a lesson from the accident. He explained to the press on Sunday, 28 Menachem Av 5773, shortly after the accident that ambulances were delayed as access to the site was blocked. He pointed out that something must be done to avoid a reoccurrence in the future.

The bus driver was lightly injured and he told police investigators that he was not speeding, not on his mobile phone and not distracted by any passengers. He insists he is not to blame. He points a finger of blame at the truck driver who parked on the shoulder but the truck protruded into the right lane of traffic. The driver insists the truck driver who was parked illegally on the side is responsible. Tzarfati hired a private attorney to defend him.

The truck driver who was arrested for questing and since released with restrictions insists he was standing still, and therefore, he is not responsible. He told police that his truck had engine issues compelling him to pull over. He added he was aware the rear left side of the truck was on the highway and he placed a warning triangle into position to alert oncoming motorists. He added that he was in that position for 30 minutes before the bus hit him, seeking to add credibility to the fact that the bus is responsible since many other vehicles passed during the half hour and nothing occurred.

Metropolin officials announced they are waiting for the official results of the police investigation before commenting. The company adds the driver is a veteran with a great deal of experience and a good driving record.

Representatives of the nation’s teamsters feel that the Highway 6 Authority is too blame, insisting the shoulders on the road are too narrow, leading to the accident. The teamsters want the right-side barrier removed to permit widening the shoulders to accommodate trucks.

Highway 6 officials insist the demands are unreasonable and not doable, insisting the highway was built to the highest standard and well within regulations.

Police are signaling they plan to file vehicular manslaughter charges against either or both the bus and truck driver.

The names of those killed in the accident include:

1) IDF Pvt. Chai Ben-Naim, 19, from Rishon L’Tzion

2) IDF St.-Sgt. Kfir Dahari, 23, from Yahud. He was planning to celebrate his 23rd birthday in three weeks after being discharged from the IDF. He is survived by his wife Re’ut who is pregnant and their 9-month-old son.

3) Yariv Barak, 28 from Rishon L’Tzion

4) Yoni Turgeman, 21 from Rehovot. He was a senior hesder yeshiva talmid in Mitzpei Rimon preparing to return to beis medrash this week. He was active working with dati leumi teens in a number of areas.

DNA sampling was required to positively identify the badly mangled remains of the victims z”l.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)