Police probing why bus carrying youth group kids rolled off road

Police say they are investigating what caused a school bus to roll off the road outside Beit Shemesh, injuring over 30 children between the ages of 8 and 12.

According to authorities, the bus was traveling westbound on Route 395 when it swerved to the right for an unknown reason as it approached Route 38, sending it rolling into a swale on the side of the Kisalon traffic circle near the junction.

The police statement indicates no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

תאונת הדרכים בצומת אשתאול – כוחות משטרה ובוחני תאונות הדרכים של מחוז ירושלים פתחו בחקירת נסיבות תאונת הדרכים העצמית במהלכה אוטובוס תלמידים התהפך על צידו. כתוצאה מהתאונה, טופלו במקום על ידי גורמי רפואה ופונו 29 פצועים pic.twitter.com/SuxcbwC4BX

— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) September 27, 2023

The Ynet news site reports that police are checking if an issue with the brakes caused the driver to lose control.

The bus was carrying children from the religious Ariel youth group back from an activity, the Beit Shemesh municipality said. Most schools serving the country’s Hebrew-speaking population are on break for fall holidays.