February 16, 2012
Palestinian children killed in West Bank bus accident
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At least eight Palestinian schoolchildren on a field trip were killed when a truck collided with their bus on a rain-soaked road in the West Bank.
Dozens of elementary school age children on the bus headed from eastern Jerusalem for Ramallah were also injured. The students were taken to Palestinian hospitals in Ramallah and Israeli hospitals, including Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikvah. A teacher was also reportedly killed.
The Israeli-Arab truck driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle in the bad weather. The impact caused the bus to flip over and burst into flames.
Israel and Palestinian emergency services cooperated at the scene, while Israeli and Palestinian security police are cooperating in investigating the accident, according to reports.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning following the tragedy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his sorrow at the tragedy and offered the Palestinian Authority any assistance needed.
