Vo Sy Nghia, 46, from Ha Tinh, was apprehended by Khanh Hoa police on 8/8 at the Ninh Loc toll booth area, approximately 700 km from the scene of a hit-and-run accident in Dak O commune, Dong Nai. The arrest concluded a 38-hour manhunt that began after Nghia allegedly struck a pedestrian and fled. On 14/8, Khanh Hoa police officially transferred Nghia to Dong Nai police for further investigation into the hit-and-run.

Nghia was arrested 38 hours after the incident. Photo: Dong Nai Police

From a victim in a ditch to a white Chevrolet

The incident occurred in the early morning of 7/8 in Bu Khon hamlet, Dak O commune. Residents exercising heard cries for help and discovered a man injured in a roadside ditch on the inter-commune road. They immediately transported him for emergency medical care. Witnesses reported that the victim had been struck from behind by a four-seater car, which then sped away.

Following the report, Dak O commune police and Dong Nai criminal police launched an immediate investigation. Utilizing camera footage from various routes and accounts from witnesses near the scene, officers identified the vehicle as a white Chevrolet Spark with license plate 15A-14394. Authorities quickly identified Vo Sy Nghia as the driver. However, Nghia had already fled the area, driving north in an attempt to evade capture. Dak O commune police promptly issued an alert to police forces in provinces and cities along National Highway 1, requesting their cooperation in the pursuit.

Intercepted after a journey of about 700 km

At 19:50 on 8/8, police from Nam Ninh Hoa commune, Khanh Hoa province, in coordination with other units, successfully intercepted and arrested Nghia at the Ninh Loc toll booth, about 700 km from the accident site. During questioning, Nghia confessed to hitting the pedestrian while driving on the road that morning and then fleeing the scene. After the handover, Dak O commune police brought Nghia back to the accident site for a reconstruction of the incident as part of the ongoing investigation.

Dak O commune police took Nghia to the accident road to reconstruct the scene. Photo: Dong Nai Police

According to Dong Nai police, the accident area was sparsely populated with few witnesses, making the investigation challenging. Despite these difficulties, the combined efforts of collected information and inter-provincial police cooperation led to Nghia's apprehension within 38 hours of the accident.

Phuoc Tuan