Full Breakdown
Minibus Overturns on Route 353 Near Beit Shemesh, Injuring Nine
By Drooid · · How we work
Accident Overview
In the early hours of October 22, 2026, a single-vehicle minibus overturned and fell onto the roadside of Route 353 near Sarigim, close to Beit Shemesh. The vehicle came to rest on its side, trapping nine young passengers inside. Magen David Adom (MDA) received the accident report at 6:03 a.m. and dispatched firefighters from the Beit Shemesh station to the scene.
Emergency Response
Firefighters arrived promptly and began extricating the passengers. Incident commander Zacharia Rafael described the operation, noting that the team acted quickly and professionally to rescue all occupants. Emergency medical technician Yosef Horowitz confirmed that all injured individuals were fully conscious upon arrival. The responders successfully freed all nine passengers and transferred them to medical personnel for further care.
Injuries and Medical Treatment
Among the nine occupants, a man in his 30s sustained serious injuries requiring sedation and ventilation. An 18-year-old passenger suffered moderate injuries to multiple body parts and was treated with bandaging and immobilization. The remaining seven passengers incurred light injuries. All nine casualties were evacuated by MDA ambulances to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem for treatment.
Official Statements & Responses
MDA’s official report emphasized that the rapid coordination between dispatch, firefighting, and medical teams prevented further harm. The agency highlighted the effectiveness of its emergency protocols in handling single-vehicle accidents on rural roadways.
“Upon arriving at the scene, we identified a minibus that had fallen onto the roadside, with nine people trapped inside. We acted quickly and professionally to rescue all the passengers and transfer them to medical personnel for treatment,” — Zacharia Rafael
“We received a report of a single-vehicle minibus accident. When we arrived at the scene, we saw the minibus overturned on its side and all the passengers nearby. All the injured were fully conscious,” — Yosef Horowitz