A delivery driver's van was stolen moments before he was run over by the vehicle and dragged a 'considerable distance' down a main road. The 54-year-old man is currently in hospital in a critical condition after the attack on Tuesday which happened in the Cathays area of Cardiff.
Police closed the North Road in both directions for over nine hours, causing severe delays across the city, Wales Online reports. Laytonia Avenue was also closed and it has now emerged that the van was stolen from the street as the driver delivered parcels.
He was then hit by his own vehicle and dragged down the road for 0.6 miles before it came to a stop near Cathays High School. South Wales Police had previously said the incident involved a vehicle and a pedestrian and a white van had been seized for examination from the scene by a specialist recovery team.
They have now also confirmed that a 39-year-old man has been arrested along with several other details about the horrific incident. Detective chief inspector Matt Powell said on Wednesday: “At 12.49pm yesterday South Wales Police received a report of a driver failing to stop at a road traffic collision on North Road, Cardiff.
"We can now confirm that the van was a delivery vehicle stolen from nearby Laytonia Avenue while the victim was delivering parcels in the street. During the theft it is believed the van collided with the owner who has then been carried by the vehicle for a considerable distance until it came to a halt on North Road.
"This is a shocking incident and our thoughts are with the victim’s family who continue to be supported by specialist officers.” Officers said that house to house and CCTV inquiries are still ongoing and that motorists and the local community have been thanked for their understanding and patience during their essential examinations.
DCI Powell added: “I would like to thank everyone who stopped to try to help the victim and who have contacted us so far with crucial information. While one man has been arrested we are still very much appealing for information and witnesses.
“In particular we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed or has footage of a white Renault Traffic van being driven in the area of Laytonia Avenue and North Road between 12.45pm and 12.50pm on Tuesday, March 28." Witnesses or anyone with information can contact police quoting occurrence 2300099389. Police can either be contacted via 101, by email at swp101@south-wales.police.uk, on their website, or via social media.
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