Five family members killed in car accident in Bsharri

"The vehicle veered off course and fell into a deep valley on the old Arz road, resulting in the deaths of Joseph T. 48 years old; his wife Jocelyne S., 41 years old; their two children, Michel, 4 years old, and Elias, 2 years old; as well as Majed 15 years old (the wife’s nephew)," the Civil defense reported in a statement published Friday. 

"The bodies were located deep in the valley after a comprehensive search by Civil Defense units, supported by Lebanese Army commandos and other agencies," according to L'Orient Today's correspondent

“The causes of the accident remain unknown. Civil Defense teams and the Lebanese Red Cross faced significant challenges in retrieving the bodies due to the rugged terrain and steep slopes. A military unit from the Arz barracks also assisted in the recovery efforts. The bodies were transferred to Bsharri Governmental Hospital after the necessary legal procedures were completed,” according to the Civil defense.

Experts say improving traffic safety in Lebanon will require changes to infrastructure, enforcement, vehicle standards and driver education.

Lebanon is currently six years into a six-year, $200 million World Bank-funded road rehabilitation project that aims, among other goals, to reduce traffic fatalities by 15 percent on five priority road sections. Of that, $2 million is earmarked to support the Traffic Safety Committee’s secretariat.

Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon, road conditions, however, continue to deteriorate, characterized by a decrease in the amount of street lighting and traffic lights, as well as a drop in both road and car maintenance as both the government and drivers find themselves unable to afford repairs.

Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak