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Truck driver caught for hit-and-run death

The Dubai Police have arrested an Asian driver who, they say, was responsible for a hit-and-run accident that killed a UAE national on an exit road from Al Ain-Dubai Road to Emirates Road on Sunday night.

The police said the victim, identified as 24-year-old M.S., had parked his car on the hard shoulder of the exit after it ran out of petrol and was standing outside when a mini truck hit him.

Brigadier Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said a friend of the victim, who was bringing petrol after being called for help, informed the police about the victim lying in a pool of blood on the exit. The friend actually saw the mini truck but could not note down its number.

The police found M.S. dead with his head crushed. The car was also damaged. The investigators who examined the scene found pieces of a truck and a team of officers fanned out to track it down.

Lt-Colonel Ahmed Al Marri, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, a patrol team spotted a mini truck parked in a narrow lane near a workshop in Al Aweer industrial area around 9.30pm on Sunday. Blot spots were found on the right side of the truck, which was put under surveillance.

Lt-Col Al Marri said the mini truck driver, A.S (32), who was arrested on Tuesday said he had dozed off while taking the exit from the Al Ain-Dubai Road and his vehicle hit the victim and the latter’s car. He woke up immediately and saw the man lying on the road but he fled because he was scared and did not want to be arrested.

He drove to the house of a friend who advised him to repair the dent in the mini truck in a workshop in a remote area so that he would not be caught by the police. Hence, he took the vehicle to the workshop in Al Aweer industrial area and parked it in the narrow side lane.

Lt-Col Al Marri said the victim died on the spot because of serious head injuries.

The Asian driver has been referred to the Public Prosecution and investigators are also looking into the chance of the driver being under the influence of any substance when the accident happened.

The police have also detained his friend and colleague in a contracting company for advising and helping him in the attempt to destroy evidence and not reporting the crime.

Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim and Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, respectively of the Dubai Police, called the victim’s family members and offered condolences.

news@khaleejtimes.com