Woman killed after driving into stray camels in Negev
Victim in 60s dies after hitting group of three dromedaries outside Beersheba; pedestrian killed in separate accident in Ashkelon
A woman was killed late Sunday night after her car hit three stray camels that had wandered onto a Negev highway.
The fatal crash occurred on Route 2357 between Kibbutz Hatzerim and the southern city of Beersheba, according to reports in Hebrew media.
The victim, a woman said to be in her 60s, was declared dead at the scene by Magen David Adom paramedics.
“On the side of the road, near the trees we found the vehicle that had been completely crushed,” said MDA paramedic Carmel Cohen. “The woman we found in the front seat had no signs of life; we tried to resuscitate her but her injuries were so severe that we were forced to declare her dead right away.”
Police have opened an investigation into the incident and are looking for the owner of the wandering camels.
The condition of the camels was not known.
Stray camels wandering Negev roads are responsible for a handful of deaths and dozens of car accidents each year, among hundreds of road fatalities annually.
On Monday morning, a pedestrian in downtown Ashkelon was killed after being struck by a passing truck.
Magen David Adom paramedics responding to the accident declared the man dead at the scene.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the fatal accident.