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Relatives of Russian crash victims arrive in Israel
17 Dec 2008 13:14:29 GMT
 Source: Reuters
BEN GURION AIRPORT, Israel, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Relatives of Russian tour operators injured in an horrific bus crash arrived in Israel on Wednesday, and the government prepared to fly the bodies of the 24 people who died in the accident back to Saint Petersburg.

The 49 Russians had been in Israel only a few hours on Tuesday for a training trip when their bus travelling from Ovda airport veered off a desert road near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat and plunged down a ravine.

The crash was the worst in Israel for years. It drew condemnation from politicians and road safety activists who said more needed to be done to fight high road fatalities. The 25 Russian survivors suffered varying degrees of injury.

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said the crash occurred as the Israeli driver, who is being questioned by police, tried to overtake another bus.

An Israeli police officer told Israel Radio that the investigation was in its initial stages and no conclusions had yet been drawn about the cause of the crash.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the investigation was focusing on whether the bus driver lost control while trying to overtake another vehicle.

Israel is a favourite destination for Russian tourists. Some 230,000 Russians visited the country in the first nine months of 2008 and the tourism ministry expects the number to rise to 400,000 in 2009. (Writing by Joseph Nasr)


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An Israeli police officer surveys the wreckage of a bus at the scene of a crash, north of the Red Sea resort of Eilat December 17, 2008. A bus full of ...


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Last updated:Wed Dec 17 13:16:58 2008