Israeli tourist killed in Georgia

Minibus carrying 14 Israelis crashes headlong into truck; 58-year old woman killed, 12 wounded

A minibus carrying 14 Israeli tourists traveling in Georgia crashed headlong into a roving truck Sunday morning, and a number of them were injured. Diplomatic sources say a 58-year old woman was killed.

Georgian rescue forces arrived on the scene to treat those injured in the crash, and then evacuated them to a nearby hospital.

Two people suffer from severe wounds and seven others sustained moderate-severe injuries. Three were lightly injured and are suffering from fractured bones, according to reports.

Seven people require medical evacuation by air, but it remains unclear whether they will be transported to the capital Tbilisi or Israel.

The Israeli embassy in Tbilisi is in contact with rescuers, and the Foreign Ministry has stated that it is in touch with the tourists' families in Israel.
The Israeli tourists were on their way to Kutaisi, the second-largest city in Georgia, when the accident occurred.

They left Israel last week and were scheduled to return home in a few days.

Despite the tragic consequences, a tour guide who was on board the minibus says the group was lucky the accident occurred on a main road, allowing rescue forces o arrive within just a half an hour.