Cabbie arrested after cattle killed in hit-and-run on Sha Tau Kok Road

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A 59-year-old taxi driver was on Thursday arrested after dashcam video caught him speeding on Sha Tau Kok Road and hitting a cattle, sending it meters away. The driver didn't pull over but fled the scene and the cattle eventually died. 

According to the video footage circulated online, the incident occurred around 11.30pm on Sunday (Dec 4). The taxi was running at high speed on Sha Tau Kok Road heading towards Sheung Shui when it hit the cattle that was standing in the middle of the driving lane. 

Yet, the taxi only slowed down as the cattle mounted on the front of the taxi after the collision and cracked the windscreen. The cattle then dropped onto the ground and rolled a few times before it could stand up straight and slowly retreated to the sidewalk. 

Some netizens slammed the driver for not applying the brakes in time while others defended the delayed reaction and added it was humanly impossible to stop in split seconds. 

The Sai Kung Shap Sze Heung Cattle Concern Group later said they located the injured cattle, which sustained multiple injuries and was bleeding profusely. Although the cattle was sent to a farm for treatment, it “appeared weak and refused to eat,” the group said, as they voiced anger towards the handling of the driver. 

It was understood that neither the Sheung Shui nor Lok Ma Chau police districts received any traffic incident report at the time, sparking suspicions that the driver didn't file a report and chose to cover up the incident. 

Police then initiated investigations and arrested the driver surnamed Kung in the early hours on Thursday for dangerous driving, interfering the vehicle to conceal evidence, failing to pull over and failing to report to police after an accident. The driver has been remanded in custody. 

Police warned that dangerous driving is an offense and the maximum penalty upon conviction carries a HK$25,000 fine and three years' imprisonment. Even it is the offender's first conviction, the offender could see his or her driving license suspended for at least six months. 
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