Seven killed as train hits minibus in southern Israel

Aug 5, 2010, 20:31 GMT

Tel Aviv - A passenger train ploughed into a minibus in southern Israel Thursday night, crushing it and killing seven people, including a pregnant woman and two children, witnesses and police said.

Eight people were injured.

All the dead were passengers on the minibus. No injuries were reported among the train passengers, although several people were treated for shock.

According to reports, the driver of the minibus did not stop at the level crossing, near the city of Kiryat Gat, but as he was crossing the railway line, saw the train approaching and instead of moving forward, stopped on the tracks.

The train driver turned on his emergency brakes, but was unable to stop in time.

The train driver, Giora Weiss, told reporters that just before the accident he could see the driver chatting with the passengers on the minibus.

'The guy was talking to his friends, it seemed like he wasn't looking at the tracks at all - I don't think he even noticed the barrier,' Weiss said.

According to the Haaretz daily, the minibus driver, who was injured in the collusion, told police that he saw the barrier just before he hit it.

Transport Minister Yisrael Katz has ordered a commission of inquiry to be set up to probe the circumstances of the crash, Israel Radio reported.