Israeli Train Collides With Truck; 60 Hurt

[maddezmom]

17 minutes ago



JERUSALEM - A train collided with a truck near the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon Tuesday, injuring about 60 people, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service.


Ambulances raced to the scene and helicopters circled overhead. At least two of the train cars derailed and were on their sides, rescue officials said.

The conditions of the injured were not immediately available, but one medic on the scene said it appeared that there were dozens of casualties.

"One of the railroad cars is upside down, and it's impossible to tell what's inside," a medic identified as Dudi told Israel Radio. "It's the worst accident I've ever seen."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050621/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_train_accident;_

[Scurrilous]

1. Train crashes near Kiryat Gat; at least 100 hurt

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/590643.html

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"A passenger train hit a large vehicle near Kiryat Gat on Tuesday, two of its cars were derailed and at least 100 people were hurt. Many passengers were buried under the derailed train car.

Rescue forces had difficulty arriving at the scene of the accident as it occurred at an intersection between train tracks and a dirt road. Israel Defense Forces helicopters participated in the evacuation of casualties. Five fire fighting cars were making their way to the place of the accident from Ashkelon.

It was not immediately clear what was the status of the casualties. Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot and Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon were receiving evacuatees from the accident.

Cranes and heavy equipment were brought to the scene to rescue passengers burried under the train.

A Magen David Adom paramedic who was at the scene told Israel Radio "there were dozens of dead and injured, it's a very difficult site."