Tragedy during rocket fire: a 17-year-old teenager died in a road accident in northern Israel

Photo: depositphotos.

On September 22, northern Israel witnessed a tragic event as a 17-year-old from central Israel died in a car accident amidst a missile strike from Lebanon. As reported by “Vesty,” the car, in which the teen was a passenger, swerved off the road and collided with a barrier on Highway 77 near the Ishai junction in the northern Jezreel Valley. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver panicked after hearing air raid sirens, leading to the loss of control over the vehicle.

Photo: police press service

Accident and Aftermath

At 5:18 a.m., eight minutes after the air raid sirens were activated, the Magen David Adom (MADA) emergency service received a report of the accident. Paramedics arrived on the scene and pronounced the teenager dead after extracting him from the damaged vehicle. The driver, a man in his 30s, sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, where his condition is classified as moderate to severe. Two other passengers suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalization.

Police Urge Caution

Yaron Ben-Ishay, the head of the Migdal HaEmek Police, reported that the morning missile strikes from Lebanon caused significant damage to numerous vehicles. He urged drivers to avoid traveling to northern Israel due to ongoing security risks.

Official Safety Guidelines During Attacks

Later that morning, Brigadier General (Res.) Hilik Sofer from the IDF Home Front Command appeared on Ynet, emphasizing the importance of following safety rules during missile attacks. The media outlet “Vesty” republished the Home Front Command’s life-saving guidelines.

Key Safety Rules for Drivers During Missile Attacks:

1. Pull over to the side of the road and quickly seek shelter in a nearby building.
2. If you cannot find shelter, move away from the vehicle, lie face down on the ground, and cover your head with your hands.
3. If leaving the car is impossible, remain inside, crouch below the window line, and stay in place for 10 minutes.

Safety Rules for Public Transportation Passengers During Attacks:

1. In intercity buses or school transport, the driver should pull over, open the doors, and passengers should crouch below the window line and protect their heads.
2. In city buses, the driver should stop and open the doors to allow passengers to evacuate to a nearby building. If time is too short, passengers should crouch below the window line and protect their heads with their hands.
3. On a train, the driver should reduce speed to 30 km/h for 10 minutes, and passengers should crouch below the window line and protect their heads.