Staff Sergeant Shilo Siman Tov
Staff Sergeant Shilo Siman TovCourtesy of the family

Staff Sergeant Shilo Siman Tov, 23, from Tzufim in the Shomron, died of his wounds this evening after being seriously injured in an accident on Highway 6 last week. Neria Abudraham, his cousin reveals tonight that actually, Shilo was not even supposed to be present at the accident scene.

"Shilo wasn't supposed to be there at all; he had gotten home leave but decided to give the leave to a friend," said Abudraham.

He added, "He was happy to be alive, he loved to help and volunteered a good deal in organizations such as Ilan, Simcha LeYeled and others."

Yehuda Berkiah, Shilo's neighborhood friend, said: "He was always smiling, he loved to volunteer. Really righteous. Everyone loved him and knew him. He was an athlete and played in the Samaria Leagues. This is a terrible loss to our community."

Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said "First Sergeant Shilo Siman Tov was among the best of Shomron's youth; he was all about volunteering and giving to the community. He was beloved in the Tzufim community and among his many friends from Shomron and beyond."

"He served in the IDF Shomron sector with honors and was an exemplary model to his fellow soldierss as well as to his friends in the community. Tzufim and the entire Shomron community mourn Shilo's tragic death. In these difficult moments, we embrace the dear family, one of the first families in Tzufim. We will stand by them at these moments and strengthen them," Dagan added.

Siman Tov left behind his parents, Aviva and Uzi, and five brothers.

In an accident last Tuesday between a truck and three military vehicles on Route 6 southward, two soldiers were killed near the Nitzanei Oz interchange. Ten more soldiers were wounded, one of them, Siman Tov, who was seriously injured and died today, and nine others who sustained moderate to serious injuries.

The commander of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strik, announced that he has established a team of experts headed by Colonel Yair Natans, commander of the Kidon formation, to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

At the same time, an investigation into the accident was opened by military police.