Teen hurt in Carmel Tunnel bus crash succumbs to injuries
Driver arrested; dozens more remain hospitalized with various injuries after accident near Haifa
A 17-year-old girl injured in a bus crash in the Carmel Tunnel near Haifa Thursday evening died at a local hospital Friday morning.
The teen, later named as Or Elbaz of Haifa, was pronounced dead at the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa.
The bus driver involved in the deadly crash was remanded into police custody after he was released from hospital on Friday.
The driver claimed that a technical failure caused the crash, Army Radio reported. Police were checking every possibility, including the driver’s inattention.
At least 54 people were hurt, some critically, in the accident in northern Israel. As of Friday morning, 35 people remained hospitalized, according to Ynet. Five remained in serious condition.
According to the Magen David Adom emergency medical service, one person sustained critical injuries, six people were severely wounded, and seven more were in moderate condition. The remaining casualties were all lightly injured.
According to initial reports, the bus swerved into a wall in the tunnel. Channel 10, however, reported that the accident occurred between the bus and a truck.
The tunnels were closed to traffic in both directions.