The court decided to release Alexander Leibman, the bus driver, for a five-day house arrest • Police: “The driver complained of fatigue and it was his responsibility to stop and rest; We treat the driver of head-driving offenses easily, negligently and negligently driving or deflecting "

• Suspected driver Alex Leibman at a hearing to extend his arrest // Photo: Joshua Yosef

Severe accident near Ben Gurion Airport: Following a hearing Thursday in Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court in the case of Alexander Leibman, the 44-year-old bus driver from Haifa involved in the fatal accident in which four of the 947 passengers were killed earlier this week were released for five-day detention And in restrictive conditions, police impose on Leibman the offense of negligent death, driving with ease, and deviating from the lane.

The police investigation is now focused on the possibility of distraction and the human factor. It is inevitable that police say there is a need to question, and may even investigate under warning, some of Leibman's charges in the case, due to a claim that the driver voiced fatigue and restlessness in contravention of regulations.

Extension of bus driver's arrest // Photo: Moshe Ben Simhon

Police initially requested an additional five days in detention for further investigation and fear of disruption, but defense attorney Roy Bar-On asked the court to release his client as the police themselves pledged at the beginning of the seven-day detention period. In the end, the court judge, Zohar Debon, ruled that there was no justification for further detention.

In the hearing, the police argued, among other things, that the traffic regulations require hours of rest due to long commutes. "This is a problematic line. But the driver complained of fatigue and it was his responsibility to stop and rest. We asked him why he did not stop and he replied that he did not feel fatigue. We think our driver underestimated his work. We treat the driver with easy head driving, negligent driving and turning or carelessly deflecting. ".

The scene of the accident near Ben Gurion Airport // Photo: Yossi Zeliger

Defense attorney Roy Brown said in the hearing: "It is a serious accident but there is no reason for him not to go home. He is neither dangerous nor driving. If there is a fear of escape, we will ban the exit from the country. "

As we reported in Israel today, the Lowland Police Department, which is investigating the fatal accident, contacted the public on Wednesday to find out more about the bus driver's behavior, conduct and alertness during the trip from uninjured bus passengers. The announcement read: "Passengers traveling by bus 947 leaving Jerusalem on December 22 at 6 pm and departing before the accident occurred should call 050-5071842".

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At the same time, police received some of the results of the driver's tests, including a drug test, which did not reveal any suspicious findings. Also, his cellphone was tested and it appears that there is also something that could shed light on his behavior, in addition to his claims that he did not use it during driving. The suspicion of intoxication or medical reason was also ruled out.

Recall that driver Alexander Leibman, a 44-year-old Haifa resident working in Egged about two years since receiving the driver's license on a cooperating bus in his investigation, said a police official, but claims he does not remember what happened in the seconds preceding the accident.

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