06:20 IL: Preliminary information from the scene near Otniel in the Southern Hebron Hills points to one dead and three injured – one in serious condition and the others in moderate-to-light condition.

According to the information available, a soldier saw a suspicious vehicle and instructed the driver to stop for an inspection. It appears the driver did not see the soldier’s signal or simply did not understand but he continued, and as a result, tragedy unfolded. The driver continued and struck a soldier with the vehicle. The Soldiers believed this to be a terror attack and opened fire, killing one and wounding three. It appears the dead and wounded are all Israelis.

UPDATE 07:00 IL: The person killed in the tragic incident near Yishuv Otniel is a male in his fifties, a resident of the community. It appears the driver dozed off at the wheel, which is why he did not heed instructions of soldiers at the checkpoint. It also explains why his vehicle struck a soldier. The soldier is reported to have sustained light injuries.

The condition of the others in the vehicle, who were wounded by IDF gunfire, remains unclear at this time.

Updates as confirmed information becomes available.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)