BEERSHEBA, Israel, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- An Israeli tour bus driver was convicted of manslaughter Sunday for a 2008 crash that killed 24 Russian visitors.
Edward Gelfond was found guilty in Beersheba District Court of causing the crash, which left another 15 passengers injured.
The bus plunged into a riverbed in what was considered the deadliest road accident in Israel's history, Ynetnews.com said.
Prosecutors said Gelfond took an unnecessary risk when he passed another bus on the winding road at high speed. He was transporting a group of Russian travel agents at the time.
Ynetnews.com said Gelfond had previously told authorities he had hit a pothole or had been distracted by an item that fell on him from an overhead luggage rack. He also at one point blamed the crash on the driver of the bus he passed.
Prosecutors said Gelfond was a professional driver who was well aware of the conditions of the road.
