Hong Kong cabby who allegedly struck girl, sparked online manhunt, surrenders to police
- Online users had been trying to find information about driver after dashcam video capturing hit-and-run was released and went viral
A taxi driver who had been at the centre of an online manhunt launched by angry residents was arrested after surrendering to police on Wednesday, four days after he allegedly knocked down an eight-year-old girl in Sheung Shui and fled the scene.
The girl was running across the junction of Po Shek Wu Road and Po Wan Road when a north-bound green taxi jumped a red light and hit her. While she was not seriously hurt, she sustained injuries to her head, hands and feet, and one of her teeth was knocked out.
She received treatment at North District Hospital and was later discharged.
Dashcam video capturing the hit-and-run incident was released online and quickly went viral, leading internet users to express their anger on social media. One user called for anyone with information to come forward.
On Wednesday morning, a 56-year-old man claiming to be the taxi driver turned himself in at a police station, accompanied by a lawyer, according to the force.
Senior Inspector Lai Chu-fung from the Tai Po district crime squad said the vehicle involved was a so-called shadow taxi that displayed a number plate belonging to another cab.
The vehicle, which was not registered, was discovered in a car park at Fanling Wai on Tuesday night, hours before the man turned himself in.
The suspect, who claimed to be a businessman who had a valid taxi driving licence was arrested on charges of dangerous driving, failure to stop after an accident and using false documents, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without third-party insurance.
