JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A devastating road accident on Road 383 near Tel Azekah claimed the lives of two men overnight, authorities announced Tuesday, leaving two families and their communities in mourning.

One of the victims was Rabbi Meir Turgeman, 42, a respected resident of Beit Shemesh’s Nahal Revivim neighborhood. The tragedy was made even more heartbreaking by the fact that just one day earlier he had celebrated the bar mitzvah of his son, Yehonatan. Less than 24 hours after the family’s joyous celebration, Rabbi Turgeman was killed in the fatal collision. He is survived by his wife, Yael, and their nine children.

Rav Meir Turgeman z’l

The second victim was Noam Dadon, 27, of the community of Sdot Micha, located on road 383. Dadon had been preparing for his wedding, which was scheduled to take place in approximately two months. His sudden death has shocked his family and friends.

The crash involved two private vehicles. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene pronounced both men dead. A woman in one of the cars was moderately injured.

Volunteers from ZAKA’s Jerusalem District and Beit Shemesh unit worked for nearly four hours at the complex crash site, where both vehicles had overturned and come to rest on opposite sides of the highway. Firefighters carried out a lengthy and difficult extrication operation to remove one of the victims from the wreckage.

Following the recovery operation, ZAKA volunteers completed the collection of human remains and personal effects in accordance with Jewish law, working alongside Israel Police traffic investigators, who have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.

ZAKA Beit Shemesh commander Avrahami Kapp and deputy commander Yosef Chaim Hauzi are accompanying the bereaved families and assisting them with the necessary arrangements during this difficult time.