A high-speed encounter in Mong Kong shortly after midnight Thursday culminated in an abandoned vehicle rolling forward and striking two others after the driver fled police attempting a traffic stop. The incident, which unfolded around 12:30 a.m. along Argyle Street, resulted in property damage but thankfully no reported injuries, prompting a police investigation to locate the driver and ascertain the events leading up to the crash.
The sequence of events began when police officers purportedly observed the driver of a white seven-seater vehicle using a mobile phone while traveling westbound on Argyle Street, near the intersection of Sai Yee Street. Officers signaled for the vehicle to pull over for a routine inspection. Instead of complying, the driver, described as a man approximately 30 years old, allegedly accelerated, initiating a brief pursuit through the busy commercial district.
The Pursuit and Abandonment
The pursuit concluded abruptly near the traffic lights on Sai Yeung Choi Street South. Due to congestion at the intersection—a taxi and a dark-colored private car were stopped in two lanes—the seven-seater slowed. At this critical juncture, the driver quickly exited the moving vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving the engine running and the car unattended.
With no one controlling the wheel, the seven-seater drifted forward. It first impacted the rear of the stationary taxi and then grazed the side of the dark-colored private car. Both the taxi driver and the occupants of the private car were reportedly unharmed, though their vehicles sustained minor damage. The quick escape by the driver underscores the risks associated with fleeing law enforcement, particularly in densely populated urban centers like Mong Kok.
Police Investigation Underway
Hong Kong police have initiated a city-wide manhunt for the driver who abandoned the vehicle. Authorities are currently attempting to contact the registered owner of the seven-seater, hoping the information will provide leads crucial to identifying and apprehending the suspect. The charges the driver would potentially face include dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and possible charges related to mobile phone use while operating a vehicle.
This incident highlights the pervasive issue of illegal mobile phone use behind the wheel, which Hong Kong authorities strictly enforce due to significant safety risks. Furthermore, traffic safety experts stress that fleeing a traffic stop dramatically elevates the risk of accidents and poses a severe threat to public safety, transforming a minor traffic infraction into a potentially serious criminal situation.
Police urge anyone with information regarding the driver or the incident to contact local authorities to assist with the ongoing investigation. The case is now focused on leveraging public assistance and vehicle registries to bring the individual responsible to justice.