Israeli Soldier Killed In West Bank Bus Crash, Dozens Injured

An Israeli soldier was killed and dozens injured in a deadly bus crash in the West Bank on Thursday, Israeli authorities said.

The bus, traveling near the Kohav Hashachar Jewish settlement, northeast of Ramallah in the West Bank, was carrying soldiers when it overturned, the Israeli police and military said in separate statements.

A 19-year-old female soldier from the Jewish settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim near Jerusalem was killed in the accident.

Forty-two passengers were injured in the crash, one of them in serious condition, three other in moderate condition, and the rest in light condition, the Magen David Adom (Israeli Red Cross) emergency services said.

The bus was hired by the Israel Defense Forces to transport soldiers to their Jerusalem base, according to the IDF's spokesperson.

Traffic inspectors who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident initially said that the accident was caused by the bus driver's reckless driving, as he went over the speed limit.

Police officers and traffic inspectors are still investigating the circumstances in which the accident occurs. (Cihan/Xinhua)