The tragedy that occurred on Route 90, the Jordan Valley Road on Tuesday, near Moshav Argamon, is difficult to digest. Many continue to shake their heads in disbelief, that five people lost their lives during the afternoon hours, including three children between the ages 6-9 in addition to two adults.

The victims have been identified as R’ Nosson Prasko (30) of Betar; R’ Naftali Vaknin (36) of Yerushalayim and his sons, Nachman (10) and Nosson (7); and Naftali Hertz Chai Vidovski (8). Naftali Vidovski’s father Dovid was the driver. The kvura took place on Tuesday night in Yerushalayim.

Dovid was moderately-to-seriously injured. Four others, including the bus driver, were lightly injured.

The accident occurred on the narrow road when a “Dolphin Tours” bus which was heading to Meron, collided with the Mazda 626 carrying six passengers, returning from Kever Rashbi. Traveling in the Mazda were three avreichim, one with two children and the second with one child. The Mazda veered from its lane and plowed into the bus. Police are unable to understand why the driver of the vehicle entered the opposing lane, causing the accident with the bus which was full, traveling at about 80KPH (48MPH).

Police are hinting they believe the driver, Dovid, may have nodded off, perhaps leading to the fatal crash. Police also add three hours earlier, in the Meron area, Dovid received a summons for speaking on his cellular telephone without a hands-free speaker while driving in addition to traveling with six people in the vehicle, one over the limit, when the vehicle may only carry a total of five passengers, three in the rear and not four. Police are also uncertain if the passengers in the rear were wearing seat belts, adding Dovid had 16 previous vehicular violations recorded on his license.

From the impact, two passengers were killed instantaneously. Rescue workers pronounced two others dead on the scene after failed resuscitation efforts. The bodies were taken to Ha’emek Hospital in Afula.

A boy in critical condition was flown by chopper to the trauma unit of Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. Accompanying the boy was Zaka northern district operations officer, Chezi Farkash. Doctors worked to save the young life, but were unsuccessful in their efforts, bringing the death toll in the Lag B’Omer tragedy to five. The only survivor of the Mazda was the driver, who was transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in moderate-to-serious condition.

The bus driver sustained light injuries and was transported to Ha’emek Hospital in Afula together with a bus passenger, also reported to be in light condition.

The preliminary police findings indicate the Mazda was traveling north to south and at about 1:30pm, veered into the opposing lane. Police are trying to understand why the driver entered the opposite lane of traffic. The Mazda hit the bus head-on, with the accident occurring on a relatively straight stretch of road, an area of the road that is not considered ‘accident prone’.

The news of the fatal accident traveled fast and many in Meron were concerned, each trying to find out who was in the vehicle. The band stopped playing and the music was replaced by tehillim.

The bus driver, 59-year-old Majel Muchbar, a resident of the eastern capital, explains he was traveling about 80KPH when suddenly the Mazda appeared heading straight for the bus. He explains that it appears he had just completed a pass, and was beginning to head back for his lane, but suddenly, he seemed to have lost control of the wheel and the automobile headed directly for the bus. “I had no where to go” explained Muchbar. “I immediately got out of the bus and ran over to the remains of the vehicle. I saw bodies of children and immediately began to cry. I never saw anything like this. I am driving for 26 years and I never struck so much as a cat – and now this tragedy”. Muchbar was released from the hospital on Tuesday, returning to his home.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)