South African tourist takes taxi for 45-minute joyride
A tourist from South Africa was arrested after he dragged a taxi driver from his vehicle and went for a 45-minute joyride from Central to Hung Hom before dawn on Friday.
A breathalyser test showed his breath-alcohol level was three times the legal limit, according to police.
The 49-year-old man, only identified by police as Craig, flagged down the taxi at the junction of Hennessy and Johnston roads in Wan Chai shortly after 3.30am.
When the 57-year-old taxi driver, surnamed Chan, stopped at a red light at the junction of Connaught Road Central and Rumsey Street, the suspect took possession of the taxi.
He appeared to be drunk. Suddenly, he dragged me out of the vehicle and drove away
Chan said: “He appeared to be drunk. Suddenly, he dragged me out of the vehicle and drove away.”
Chan was not injured in the incident. He called the police at 3.43am, sparking a city-wide search for his taxi.
An initial investigation showed the suspect drove back to Wan Chai and drove across the Cross Harbour Tunnel, according to police.
A police officer said the suspect drove the taxi through the toll booth without paying the tunnel fare, before heading toward Hung Hom.
Shortly before 4.30am, the suspect returned in the taxi and tried to enter the tunnel at the Hung Hom entrance but was intercepted by tunnel staff.
During the incident, the vehicle hit several traffic cones before being stopped at the tunnel’s toll booth plaza, according to police.
A breathalyser test conducted at the scene indicated the suspect’s breath-alcohol was between 60mg and 70mg, well above the legal limit of 22mg.
Police arrested him for stealing the taxi, drink driving, and driving without a licence and third-party insurance.
Last night, the man was being held for questioning in Central but no charge had been laid. Detectives from Central police station are investigating the case.
